Tag: Chemistry of milk

From a basic perspective, milk is a liquid, but this simple description hides its true complexity. In reality, milk is a complex colloidal dispersion, meaning it contains components that exist in solid and liquid phases mixed together. This multifaceted nature is why the question 'is milk a fluid or solid?' doesn't have a simple, one-word answer.

Fresh cow's milk is typically about 87% water, yet its remaining 13% contains a complex array of different substances. Far from being a single compound element, milk is scientifically defined as a colloidal mixture composed of water, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. This article explains the chemical makeup of milk and why it's a prime example of a heterogeneous mixture.