Question:

Assertion (A): Finely divided charcoal can act as an adsorbent.
Reason (R): Finely divided material has small surface area.

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Adsorption is a surface phenomenon. Greater the surface area of the adsorbent, greater is its adsorption capacity. Finely divided solids such as activated charcoal are excellent adsorbents because of their very large surface area.
Updated On: Jun 26, 2026
  • Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • (A) is correct but (R) is incorrect.
  • (A) is incorrect but (R) is correct.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Analyze Assertion (A).
Finely divided charcoal is a well-known adsorbent.
Adsorption is a surface phenomenon in which molecules of a gas or solute accumulate on the surface of a solid.
Charcoal possesses a highly porous structure and a very large surface area. Therefore, it can adsorb large quantities of gases and dissolved substances.
Hence, Assertion (A) is correct.

Step 2: Analyze Reason (R).
The reason states that finely divided material has small surface area.
This statement is incorrect.
When a substance is finely divided, its surface area increases significantly because the same mass is broken into a large number of smaller particles.
Therefore, Finely divided material has large surface area, not small surface area. Hence, Reason (R) is incorrect.

Step 3: Relate adsorption with surface area.
Adsorption increases with increase in surface area.
Since finely divided charcoal has a very large surface area, it acts as an effective adsorbent.
Thus, the assertion is true, but the reason is false.

Step 4: Final conclusion.
Therefore, \[ \boxed{\text{(A) is correct but (R) is incorrect}} \] Hence, the correct option is \[ \boxed{(3)} \]
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