What term describes mud, silt, clay, and other suspended matter in water that cause it to appear murky?

The term that describes mud, silt, clay, and other suspended matter in water, which causes it to appear murky, is turbidity. Turbidity refers to the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye. When water has high turbidity, it indicates that there are many suspended particles, which can affect the water's clarity and quality. This is an important aspect in the study of water quality, as high turbidity can indicate pollutants or excess nutrients, and it can hinder the growth of aquatic plants and the health of aquatic organisms.

Clarity relates to the clearness of the water but doesn't specifically address the presence of suspended particles. Viscosity refers to the thickness or stickiness of a fluid, indicating how resistant it is to flow, rather than the presence of particles. Solidity pertains to the state of being solid, which does not apply to the suspended particulates in water. Therefore, turbidity is the most precise term for the condition described in the question.