Difference between Adsorption and Absorption
Adsorption | Absorption |
It is a surface phenomenon. | It concerns with the whole mass of the absorbent. |
In it, the substance is only retained on the surface and does not go into the bulk or interior of the solid or liquid. | It implies that a substance is uniformly distributed, through the body of the solid or liquid. |
In it the concentration of the adsorbed molecules is always greater at the free phase. |
In it the concentration is low.
|
It is rapid in the beginning and slows down near the equilibrium. | It occurs at the uniform rate. |
Examples : (i) Water vapours adsorbed by silica gel. (ii) NH3 is adsorbed by charcoal.
|
Examples : (i) Water vapours absorbed by anhydrous CaCl2 (ii) NH3 is absorbed in water forming NH4OH |
NEET & AIIMS Exam Sample Papers
×