For the rapid engineered coagulation of a positively charged ferric hydroxide () sol, which of the f — Surface Chemistry Chemistry Question
Question
For the rapid engineered coagulation of a positively charged ferric hydroxide ($Fe(OH)_3$) sol, which of the following analytical sequences strictly represents the correct decreasing order of coagulating power of the given electrolytes according to the Hardy-Schulze formulation?
💡 Solution & Explanation
For a positively charged sol, the active coagulating ions (flocculating ions) are the anions. The Hardy-Schulze rule dictates that higher valency strictly yields exponentially greater coagulating power. The correct descending valency order of the active anions is $[Fe(CN)_6]^{4-} (-4) > [Fe(CN)_6]^{3-} (-3) > SO_4^{2-} (-2) > Cl^- (-1)$.