Adsorption

Name:
Adsorption
Detailed information:
Adherence of the atoms, ions, or molecules of a gas or liquid to the surface of another substance, called the adsorbent. The best-known examples are gas-solid and liquid-solid systems. Finely divided or microporous materials presenting a large area of active surface are strong adsorbents and are used for removing colors, odors, and water vapor (activated carbon, activated alumina, silica gel). The attractive force of adsorption is relatively small, of the order of van der Waals forces. When molecules of two or more substances are present, those of one substance may be adsorbed more readily than those of the others. This is called preferential adsorption.See Absorption; Chemisorption.