Which of the following describes the relationship between colloids and electrical charge in water?

The correct choice highlights that most colloids possess a negative charge and tend to repel each other. This characteristic is crucial in understanding how colloids behave in water. The negative charges on colloidal particles create an electrostatic repulsion that prevents them from aggregating or settling out of suspension easily. This stability is important in various applications, including water treatment processes, where maintaining the dispersion of particles is necessary to prevent clarity issues or unwanted sedimentation.

In practical scenarios, the repulsive forces help keep colloidal particles suspended, allowing for effective filtration and treatment rather than having them quickly settle, which would occur if they were positively charged or neutral. Understanding this attribute of colloids aids in predicting their behavior in different water treatment scenarios, highlighting the significance of charge in influencing colloidal stability.