Which statement accurately describes the nature of colloidal particles?

Colloidal particles are indeed so small that gravity has negligible influence on their behavior. This small size allows them to remain suspended in a liquid, preventing them from settling out under the influence of gravitational forces. Colloidal particles typically range from about 1 nanometer to 1 micrometer in diameter, and because of their small scale, they exhibit unique characteristics such as Brownian motion, where they continuously move due to collisions with molecules in the suspension medium.

The other statements present misunderstandings of key concepts related to colloids. For instance, while the zeta potential is a critical factor in the stability of colloidal dispersions, it represents the electrostatic potential at the shear plane surrounding a colloidal particle and is not directly related to covalent bonding among particles. Likewise, the behavior of colloidal particles is influenced more by their surface chemistry and interactions rather than solely by their mass. Lastly, the surface area of colloidal particles is significant compared to their volume, which is one reason why they can interact strongly with their surroundings and can enhance reactions in processes like catalysis.