adsorption
/ædˈsɔrbʃən/ · ad.sor.bʃən
noun
- The process by which a substance accumulates on the surface of another substance, typically through intermolecular forces. The adsorption of water molecules onto the surface of a catalyst is crucial for the chemical reaction to occur.
- A measure of the amount of a substance that is adsorbed onto a surface. The adsorption capacity of the activated carbon was tested by measuring the amount of dye that it could remove from the solution.
Did you know? The term 'adsorption' was first used by German chemist August Freund in 1887 to describe the process of molecules adhering to a surface, which is now a fundamental concept in surface chemistry and materials science.