Arrange N 2,CO,CH 4 in the increasing order of adsorption on the surface of activated charcoal given that their critical temperatures are 126,124,190 K respectively.

To determine the increasing order of adsorption of N₂, CO, and CH₄ on the surface of activated charcoal, we can use the concept of critical temperature. The critical temperature is the highest temperature at which a substance can exist as a liquid, and it plays a significant role in adsorption phenomena. Generally, gases with lower critical temperatures tend to be adsorbed more strongly on surfaces like activated charcoal.

Understanding Critical Temperatures

The critical temperatures for the gases in question are as follows:

• N₂: 126 K
• CO: 124 K
• CH₄: 190 K

From this data, we can see that CO has the lowest critical temperature, followed by N₂, and then CH₄ has the highest critical temperature. This suggests that CO is likely to be adsorbed more readily than N₂, and both are expected to be adsorbed more than CH₄.

Adsorption Trends

In the context of activated charcoal, which has a high surface area and porous structure, the adsorption process is influenced by the nature of the gas molecules. Gases with lower critical temperatures tend to have stronger intermolecular forces, which enhances their ability to adhere to surfaces. Therefore, we can infer the following:

• CO (124 K) will be adsorbed the most due to its low critical temperature.
• N₂ (126 K) will follow, as it has a slightly higher critical temperature than CO.
• CH₄ (190 K) will be adsorbed the least because it has the highest critical temperature among the three.

Final Arrangement

Based on the analysis of critical temperatures and the principles of adsorption, we can arrange the gases in increasing order of adsorption on activated charcoal as follows:

• CH₄
• N₂
• CO

Thus, the final order is CH₄ < N₂ < CO. This arrangement reflects the tendency of these gases to adhere to the surface of activated charcoal, with CO being the most strongly adsorbed and CH₄ the least. Understanding these relationships helps in various applications, including gas separation and purification processes.