Question

Substances mentioned below are arranged in the increasing order of force of attraction between the particles. Which of the following is/are the correct arrangement?

• A. Apple juice < Iron < Air
• B. Oxygen < Water < Sugar
• C. Mercury < Chalk < Iron
• D. Salt < Juice < Air

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C)

The correct options are
B Oxygen < Water < Sugar
C Mercury < Chalk < Iron

We know the interparticle distance (distance between the particles) of solids is much less than liquids and gases because the order of force of attraction in different fundamental states of matter is Gases < Liquids < Solids.

Oxygen (Gas) < Water (Liquid) < Sugar (Solid), Mercury (Liquid metal) < Chalk (Solid) < Iron (Solid).

Iron and chalk both are solid but force of attraction between the particles of iron is much higher than the force of attraction between the particles of chalk. This can be proved by hammering chalk and iron. Chalk will convert to powder state but iron won't.