What is the external/continuous phase of an emulsion?

• A. Dispersed phase
• B. Interfacial film
• C. The external phase
• D. Dispersion medium

Answer: (D)

In an emulsion, one liquid forms droplets while the other surrounds those droplets because they are immiscible. The liquid that surrounds and suspends the droplets is the continuous or external phase. The term used in dispersion science for that surrounding medium is dispersion medium, which is why this is the best answer. The dispersed phase is the droplet phase itself, the interfacial film is the layer of emulsifier at the boundary between the two liquids, and while the external phase and dispersion medium describe the same surrounding liquid, dispersion medium is the precise term that identifies the medium in which the droplets are dispersed.