Question

Smoke and fog both are aerosols. In what way are they different?

Answer 1

We know that the solution in which a solid is dispersed in a liquid is known as the colloidal sol. In a colloidal sol, the dispersion phase is solid and the dispersion medium is liquid. Aerosol is a type of colloidal sol. In aerosols, the dispersion phase is solid and the dispersion medium is a gas.

Complete answer: We know that the solution in which a solid or liquid is dispersed in a liquid is known as the colloidal sol. In a colloidal sol, the dispersion phase is solid and the dispersion medium is liquid. Aerosol is a type of colloidal sol.
In aerosols, the dispersion phase is solid or liquid and the dispersion medium is a gas.
Smoke is a collection of very tiny particles of unburned carbon, tiny droplets of tar and many other chemicals. When smoke is formed, the tiny solid particles get dispersed in air. Thus, smoke is an aerosol in which the dispersion phase is solid and the dispersion medium is a gas.
Fog consists of very tiny droplets of water that are dispersed in air. Thus, fog is an aerosol in which the dispersion phase is liquid and the dispersion medium is a gas.
Thus, smoke and fog differ in terms of dispersion phase. In smoke, dispersion phase is sold and in fog, dispersion phase is a liquid.

Note: Smoke is formed when particles of dust get mixed with air. Fog is formed when water vapours condense to form liquid water droplets that hang in air. Formation of smoke is a source of air pollution. When smoke and fog combine together smog is produced.