Question

What is adsorption ?

Answer 1

Adsorption is defined as the deposition of molecular species onto the surface. The molecular species that gets adsorbed on the surface is known as adsorbate and the surface on which adsorption occurs is known as adsorbent. Common examples of adsorbents are clay, silica gel, colloids, metals etc.

Adsorption is a surface phenomenon. The process of removal of adsorbent from the surface of adsorbate is known as desorption



There are two types of Adsorption – Physical Adsorption or Physiosorption and Chemical Adsorption or Chemisorption

Physical adsorption involves adsorption of gases on solid surface via weak van der Waal’s forces.

When the gas molecules or atoms are held to the solid surface via chemical bonds, this type of adsorption is chemical adsorption or chemisorption.


Hope you have understood the concept.