Question

In the adsorption of oxalic acid on activated charcoal, the activated charcoal is called :

• A. adsorbent
• B. adsorbate
• C. adsorber
• D. absorber

Answer 1

The correct option is A adsorbent

Adsorption :

The phenomenon of attracting and retaining the molecules of a substance on the surface of a liquid or a solid resulting into a higher concentration of the molecules on the surface is called adsorption.

Adsorption of a gas by charcoal :

Finely divided activated charcoal has a tendency to adsorb a number of gases like ammonia, sulphur dioxide, chlorine, phosgene, etc. In this case, charcoal acts as an adsorbent while gas molecules act as adsorbate.

Adsorption of oxalic acid on activated charcoal:

The molecules of gases or liquids or the solutes in solutions get adhered to the surface of the solids. In adsorption process two substances are involved. One is the solid or the liquid on which adsorption occurs and it is called adsorbent. The second is the adsorbate, which is the gas or liquid or the solute from a solution which gets adsorbed on the surface.