Metastability refers to a state of a system that is stable under small disturbances but can transition to a more stable state given enough time or energy input. In the context of colloids, this means that colloidal dispersions can exist in a metastable state, where they do not spontaneously separate, yet they are not in their lowest energy configuration. This property is crucial for understanding the stability and behavior of colloidal systems, especially when it comes to predicting their long-term behavior and potential phase changes.
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