Cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles is called what?

• A. Turbidity
• B. Color
• C. Sedimentation
• D. Clarity

Answer: (A)

Turbidity is the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles. When silt, clay, organic matter, or other tiny solids are dispersed in water, they scatter light as it passes through, making the water look hazy or opaque. This is a specific term used to describe that haziness and is commonly measured to assess water quality.

Color refers to the hue of the water, usually from dissolved substances, and doesn’t specifically describe cloudiness from suspended solids. Sedimentation is the process by which particles settle out of suspension over time, reducing turbidity but not describing the current haziness itself. Clarity is a general, less precise idea of how transparent water is, whereas turbidity precisely captures the effect of suspended particles on light transmission.