There are basically 3 types of mixtures. If left alone, they will settle out. The heavier ingredient will settle to the bottom.
Filtration can seperate the two ingredients.
An example would be dirt mixed with water. The solute breaks down but remains as a clump of molecules and is smaller than the eye can see. Colloids are a bit unusual in that the solute is equally dispersed in the solvent as in a solution, but the solute does not completely break down. In many cases this is because something coats the bits of solute and prevents them from completely disolving in the solvent. An example would be mayonaise, jello or Oobleck .