Zeolite as Porous Material for Molecular Sieves and Ion Exchange

What is the porous material typically used as molecular sieves and in ion exchange?

a. Activated carbon

b. Silica gel

c. Zeolite

d. Bentonite

Answer:

c) Zeolite

Zeolite is a porous mineral used as molecular sieves and in ion exchange due to its ability to trap and selectively sort molecules. Zeolites are minerals that have a micro-porous structure, which allows them to trap molecules within their pores. They can be used as molecular sieves because they can selectively sort molecules based on size. Similarly, in ion exchange, zeolites can swap one ion for another due to their porous structure. Activated carbon and silica gel are also porous materials, but they do not have the same molecular sieving and ion exchange properties as zeolites. Bentonite is a type of clay and doesn't possess these properties either.