Question

What is the enthalpy of adsorption?

Answer 1

1. Adsorption is the surface phenomenon in which the particles are gathered on the surface of any solid or liquid.
2. The process occurs at a higher concentration, and requires two components to complete the process: Adsorbate and adsorbent.
3. Adsorption itself is an exothermic process.
4. Enthalpy is the sum of internal energy with the product of pressure and volume.
5. Therefore it is represented in the form of change in enthalpy as follows:$∆\mathrm{H}=∆\mathrm{U}+\mathrm{P}∆\mathrm{V}$, where$∆\mathrm{H}$ is the change in enthalpy, $∆\mathrm{U}$ is the change in internal energy and P is the pressure and $∆\mathrm{V}$ is the change in volume.
6. This implies that the final enthalpy is lesser than the initial enthalpy.
7. During adsorption the enthalpy of the system is negative and thus the process is exothermic in nature.