Which process involves particles adhering to a surface during filtration?

The correct answer is adsorption. This process refers to the phenomenon where particles from a liquid or gas adhere to the surface of a solid material. In the context of filtration, adsorption plays a crucial role when removing contaminants from water as particles cling to the filtration media, often improving the effectiveness of the filtration system.

While mechanical filtration involves physically removing particles from water by using a barrier, it does not rely on the adherence of particles to a surface. Coagulation is a process where fine particles clump together to form larger aggregates but doesn’t specifically focus on the adherence of particles to a surface. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that involves the interaction of substances with oxygen, often used in disinfection processes rather than particle adherence during filtration. Understanding these distinctions helps to clarify why adsorption is the correct choice related to surfaces and particle adherence during filtration processes.