Lyophilic colloids (solvent loving) are those substances that directly pass into the colloidal state when brought in contact with the solvent, e.g., proteins, starch, rubber, etc. These sols are quite stable because of the strong attractive forces between the particles of disperse phase and the dispersion medium.
Lyophobic colloids (solvent hating) are those substances that do not form the colloidal sol readily when mixed with the dispersion medium. These sols are less stable than the lyophilic sols. Examples of lyophobic sols include sols of metals and their insoluble compounds like sulphides and hydroxides.
The stability of hydrophobic sol is only due to the presence of charge on the colloidal parties. If charge is removed, e.g., by addition of suitable electrolytes, the particles will come nearer to each other to form aggregate, i.e., they will coagulate and settle down. On the other hand, the stability of hydrophilic sol is due to charge as well as solvation of the colloidal particles. Thus, for coagulation to occur easily both the mentioned factors have to be removed.