Correct Answer - Option 1 : Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are individually true and Statement (II) is the correct explanation of Statement (I)
Concept:
The rate of hydration means how the reaction of cement with water progress with time.
The early development of the strength of cement is directly proportional to its rate of hydration.
As such, a higher rate of hydration means more and more cement gel is forming in very less time. Hence, the rate of development strength will be higher.
This hydration reaction occurs on the surface of cement particles (it is a surface phenomenon) and therefore, smaller size particles have a large surface area as compared to large size particles, so they have higher rate of hydration and hence, have rate of development of strength will be more.