Adsorption is a surface phenomenon when particles adhere to the top layer of a substance. It is described as a process in which a chemical accumulates in molecular species on the surface in increasing concentrations.
The nature and surface area of the adsorbent, as well as temperature, pressure, and the activation of solid adsorbent, all have an impact on adsorption.
As a result of adsorption, residual forces on the adsorbent's surface are minimized. As a result, the surface energy of the adsorbent is reduced. Hence, adsorption is always exothermic.
When a gas is adsorbed on a solid surface, its movement is limited, resulting in a decrease in the gas's entropy, or, for a process to be spontaneous should be negative, since is negative to make negative, has to be negative, therefore, it is exothermic in nature.
Adsorption can be found in a variety of natural, physical, biological, and chemical systems, and it is frequently used in commercial applications such as heterogeneous catalysts, activated charcoal, and other carbon-based materials.