What is a heterogeneous mixture that contains particles that eventually settle out called?

A heterogeneous mixture that contains particles that eventually settle out is known as a suspension. In a suspension, the larger particles are dispersed throughout a fluid but are not dissolved, allowing them to settle under the influence of gravity over time. This behavior distinguishes suspensions from other types of mixtures.

For instance, colloids are also mixtures, but the particles in a colloid are smaller and remain evenly distributed throughout the mixture, preventing them from settling. Solutions involve solutes completely dissolved in a solvent, resulting in a homogeneous mixture where the components cannot be differentiated. An emulsion specifically refers to a type of colloid where two liquids that typically do not mix (like oil and water) are combined, with one liquid dispersed as small droplets in the other.

Thus, the defining characteristic of a suspension is its ability to have its larger particles settle out over time, making it the correct answer for the given question.