What is the primary mechanism of adsorption in activated charcoal?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the primary mechanism of adsorption in activated charcoal?
Chemical bonding
Physical adsorption
Capillary action
Electrostatic attraction
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the primary mechanism of adsorption in activated charcoal?
Step 1: Understand what adsorption means. Adsorption is when molecules stick to a surface.
Step 2: Know what activated charcoal is. It is a special form of carbon that has been treated to have many tiny holes (pores).
Step 3: Learn about surface area. Activated charcoal has a very high surface area, which means it has a lot of space for molecules to stick to.
Step 4: Recognize the type of adsorption. Activated charcoal mainly uses physical adsorption, which is when molecules stick to the surface without any chemical change.
Step 5: Connect the dots. Because of its high surface area and porous structure, activated charcoal can effectively adsorb many substances.