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Arrange the following substances in increasing order of forces of attraction between the particles— water, sugar, oxygen.

Updated On: Jan 19, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

The forces of attraction between particles depend on the state of matter (solid, liquid, or gas) and the type of bonding present in the substance. Let’s analyze each substance:

  • Oxygen: Oxygen is a gas at room temperature. In gases, the forces of attraction between particles are the weakest because the particles are far apart and move freely. Therefore, oxygen has the weakest forces of attraction.
  • Water: Water is a liquid at room temperature. The forces of attraction between water molecules are stronger than those in a gas but weaker than those in a solid. Water molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds, which are strong compared to the forces in gases.
  • Sugar: Sugar (such as sucrose) is a solid at room temperature. In solids, the particles are tightly packed, and the forces of attraction between them are the strongest. The forces between sugar molecules are due to covalent bonding and intermolecular forces, which are strong.

Increasing Order of Forces of Attraction:

The substances in increasing order of forces of attraction between their particles are:

Oxygen < Water < Sugar

Conclusion:

  • The forces of attraction between the particles of oxygen are the weakest.
  • The forces of attraction between the particles of water are stronger than those in oxygen.
  • The forces of attraction between the particles of sugar are the strongest.
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Questions Asked in CBSE Class IX exam

(Street Plan) : A city has two main roads which cross each other at the centre of the city. These two roads are along the North-South direction and East-West direction.

All the other streets of the city run parallel to these roads and are 200 m apart. There are 5 streets in each direction. Using 1cm = 200 m, draw a model of the city on your notebook. Represent the roads/streets by single lines. There are many cross- streets in your model. A particular cross-street is made by two streets, one running in the North - South direction and another in the East - West direction. Each cross street is referred to in the following manner : If the 2nd street running in the North - South direction and 5th in the East - West direction meet at some crossing, then we will call this cross-street (2, 5). Using this convention, find: 

(i) how many cross - streets can be referred to as (4, 3). 

(ii) how many cross - streets can be referred to as (3, 4).

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