--%>

Explain the process of adsorption in solution.

The process of adsorption can occurs in solutions also. This implies that the solid surfaces can also adsorb solutes from solutions. Some clarifying examples are listed below:


(i) When an aqueous solution of ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) is shaken with charcoal. The concentration of acid in the solution is found to decrease because a part of acid is adsorbed by charcoal.

(ii) Litmus solution become colourless when it is shaken with charcoal which indicates that the dye of litmus solution is adsorbed by charcoal.

(iii) Mg(OH)2 is colorless but when it is precipitated in the presence of magneton reagent (a bluish dye) the precipitate acquire blue colour due to adsorption of dye on their surface.

It has also been observed that if we have a solution containing more than one solutes, then the solid adsorbents can adsorb certain solutes in preference to other solutes and solvents. The property is made use of in removing colouring matters from solutions of organic substances. For example, raw sugar solution is decolourised by animal charcoal.

Factors affecting adsorption from solutions

Adsorption from solutions by the solid adsorbents depends on the following factors.

(i) Nature of adsorbent and adsorbate

(ii) Temperature: the extent of adsorption, in general, decreases with rise in the surface area of adsorbent.

(iii) Surface area: the extent adsorption increase with the increase in the surface area of adsorbent.

(iv) Concentration: the effect of concentration on the extent of adsorption isotherm similar to Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The relationship between mass of solute adsorbed per gram (x/m) is given by the following relations:
                                                 
x/m = kC1/n              (n > 1)

Taking logarithm, equation becomes
                                               
log x/m = log k + (1/n) log C

A graph between log x/m and log C is a straight line, similar to graph.

Experimental verification of equation can be done by taking equal volume of acetic acid solutions of different concentrations in four different bottles fitted with stoppers. The contents should be well mixed. The concentration of acetic acid is found in each bottle. This concentration refers to equilibrium concentration (c). The difference of original concentration and equilibrium concentration gives the value of amount of acetic acid adsorbed by charcoal (x)log (x/m) values of different plotted against C

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : HCl is an acid or a base Illustrate is

    Illustrate is HCl an acid or a base ?

  • Q : Acid Solutions Choose the right answer

    Choose the right answer from following. Volume of water needed to mix with 10 ml 10N NHO3 to get 0.1 N HNO3: (a) 1000 ml (b) 990 ml (c) 1010 ml (d) 10 ml

  • Q : Reducible Representations The number of

    The number of times each irreducible representation occurs in a reducible representation can be calculated.Consider the C2v point group as described or Appendix C. you can see that (1) sum of

  • Q : PH of an Alkyl Halide Briefly state the

    Briefly state the pH of an Alkyl Halide?

  • Q : Help 1) Chromium(III) hydroxide is

    1) Chromium(III) hydroxide is highly insoluble in distilled water but dissolves readily in either acidic or basic solution. Briefly explain why the compound can dissolve in acidic or in basic but not in neutral solution. Write appropriate equations to support your answer. 2) Explain how dissolving t

  • Q : Mole 2.0gram of dolomite is heated to a

    2.0gram of dolomite is heated to a constant weight of 1.0g. Calculate the total volume of CO2 produced at STP by this reation

  • Q : Henry law question Answer the following

    Answer the following qustion. The definition “The mass of a gas dissolved in a particular mass of a solvent at any temperature is proportional to the pressure of gas over the solvent” is: (i) Dalton’s Law of Parti

  • Q : Problem on making solution Select the

    Select the right answer of the question. The weight of H2C2O42H2O required to prepare 500ml of 0.2N solution is : (a) 126g (b) 12.6g (c) 63g (d) 6.3g

  • Q : Problem on molarity-normality-molality

    Can someone please help me in getting through this problem. The solution ofAl2(SO4)3 d = 1.253gm/m comprise 22% salt by weight. The molarity, normality and molality of the solution is: (1) 0.805 M, 4.83 N, 0.825 M (2)

  • Q : Chemists have not created a periodic

    Explain the reason behind that the chemists have not created a periodic table of compounds?