Surface Chemistry

Name:
Surface Chemistry
Detailed information:
The observation and measurement of forces acting at the surfaces of gases, liquids and solids or at the interfaces between them. This includes the surface tension of liquids (vapor pressure, solubility); emulsions (liquid-liquid interfaces); finely divided solid particles (adsorption, catalysis); permeable membranes and microporous materials; and biochemical phenomena such as osmosis, cell function, and metabolic mechanisms in plants and animals. Surface chemistry has many industrial applications, a few of which are air pollution, soaps and synthetic detergents, reinforcement of rubber and plastics, behavior of catalysts, color and optical properties of paints, aerosol sprays of all types, monolayers and thin films, both metallic and organic. Outstanding names in the development of this science are Graham, Freundlich, and W. Ostwald in the 19th Century and Harkins, Langmuir, LaMer, and McBain in the 20th.See Colloid Chemistry.