When air is passed through a heated tube containing finely divided copper, the component that is absorbed in the process is
Answer Details
When air is passed through a heated tube containing finely divided copper, oxygen is the component that is absorbed in the process. This is because copper is a good catalyst for the oxidation of gases, especially oxygen. As air passes through the heated tube containing finely divided copper, the copper catalyses the oxidation of oxygen in the air to form copper oxide. The copper oxide is then absorbed onto the surface of the copper, leaving behind the other components of the air, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and noble gases. Therefore, the correct option is oxygen.