By Phase of Dispersed Phase and Dispersion Medium:
| Dispersed Phase | Dispersion Medium | Colloid Type | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | Liquid | Foam | Whipped cream, shaving foam, beer froth |
| Gas | Solid | Solid foam | Pumice stone, bread, styrofoam |
| Liquid | Gas | Aerosol (liquid) | Fog, mist, clouds, hairspray |
| Liquid | Liquid | Emulsion | Milk (O/W), butter (W/O), mayonnaise |
| Liquid | Solid | Solid emulsion | Cheese, jellies, butter |
| Solid | Gas | Aerosol (solid) | Smoke, dust storms |
| Solid | Liquid | Sol | Au sol, Fe(OH)_{3} sol, paints, inks |
| Solid | Solid | Solid sol | Alloys (Ruby glass has Au in glass) |
By Particle Nature:
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Multimolecular | Aggregates of small molecules | sol, Au sol, Fe(OH)_{3} sol |
| Macromolecular | Single large molecules | Starch, proteins, rubber, cellulose |
| Associated (Micelles) | Aggregates of amphiphilic molecules above CMC | Soap solution, detergent solution |
By Interaction with Solvent:
| Type | Meaning | Examples | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyophilic | Solvent-loving | Starch, gelatin, gum, proteins | High (self-stabilizing) |
| Lyophobic | Solvent-hating | Gold sol, , Fe(OH)_{3} | Low (needs charge) |