IUPAC definition : sol in which the dispersed phase is a solid, a liquid or a mixture of both and the
continuous phase is a gas (usually air).;
Scope note : modified from previous definition, within which particles with equivalent diameters
usually between 0.01µm and 100µm are specified. this extends beyond the size range
specified for a colloidal system. to avoid confusion the definition proposed here
is recommended.; an aerosol can be characterized by its chemical composition, its radioactivity (if
any), the particle size distribution, the electrical charge and the optical properties.; owing to their size, the particles of the dispersed phase have a comparatively small
settling velocity and hence exhibit some degree of stability in the earth s gravitational
field.;