Which of the following is characteristic of suspensions?

Suspensions are defined by their characteristic behavior where solid particles are dispersed in a liquid but not fully dissolved. One of the key features of a suspension is that the particles, while initially distributed throughout the liquid, will eventually settle to the bottom if left undisturbed. This settling occurs because the particles are larger and heavier than the liquid medium, which is why option describing the behavior of the particles as suspended but having the potential to settle over time is accurate.

In contrast to this, the other options refer to different properties of mixtures. The notion that particles remain in solution without settling would apply to solutions rather than suspensions. The idea that particles are chemically bonded to the liquid pertains more to solutions, where solutes dissolve and form a homogeneous mixture. Lastly, a uniform particle size throughout the mixture is characteristic of a colloid or a solution, not a suspension, where the size of particles can vary significantly.

Thus, the statement that particles in a suspension can settle over time accurately reflects the nature and behavior of suspensions and distinguishes them from other types of mixtures.