Colorado Esthetician Written Practice Exam

What kind of mixture is formed when oil is dispersed in water?

1. Molecular solution

2. Water-in-oil emulsion

3. Saturated solution

4. Oil-in-water emulsion

The correct answer is: Oil-in-water emulsion

When oil is dispersed in water, it forms an oil-in-water emulsion. In this type of mixture, small droplets of oil are suspended in water. This is the correct answer because in an oil-in-water emulsion, the oil molecules are dispersed within the continuous phase of water. Option A (Molecular solution) does not accurately describe the mixture formed when oil is dispersed in water. A molecular solution involves solute molecules fully dissolved in a solvent at a molecular level, which is not the case with oil dispersed in water. Option B (Water-in-oil emulsion) is the opposite of what occurs when oil is dispersed in water. In a water-in-oil emulsion, small droplets of water are suspended in oil as opposed to oil being dispersed in water. Option C (Saturated solution) does not apply in this scenario. A saturated solution is formed when no more solute can dissolve in a solvent at a specific temperature, which is not the case with oil and water mixing to form an emulsion. Therefore, the correct answer is option D, oil-in-water emulsion, as it accurately represents the mixture formed when oil is dispersed in water.