Question

Write the difference between absorption and adsorption.

Answer 1

Adsorption	Absorption
It is a surface phenomenon.	It is a bulk phenomenon.
The adsorbent surface retains excess concentration of the adsorbate.	The absorbent surface doe not retains excess concentration of the absorbate. There is uniform distribution of absorbate throughout the body of absorbent.
It is exothermic. Heat is evolved during process.	It is mostly endothermic process.
Initially the rate of adsorption is rapid but falls as the time passes.	The rate of absorption is uniform throughout.