--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

What is chemisorption or chemical adsorption?

When the forces of attraction existing between adsorbate particles and adsorbent almost of the same strength as chemical bonds, the adsorption is called chemical adsorption. This type of adsorption is also known as chemisorptions. Since forces of attraction existing between adsorbent and adsorbate are relatively strong, therefore, this type of adsorption cannot be easily reversed. 

Characteristics of chemisorptions

Some important characteristics of chemisorptions are as follows:

(i) High specificity: chemisorptions is highly specific in nature. It occurs only if there is a possibility of bond formation between adsorbent and adsorbate molecules. For example O2 is adsorbed on metals by virtue of oxide formation and H2 is absorbed by transition metals due to hydride formation.

(ii) Irreversibility: as chemisorptions involve the compound formation between adsorbent and adsorbate, it is generally irreversible.

(iii) Enthalpy of adsorption: attractive forces between adsorbent and adsorbate molecules are strong chemical bonds and therefore, molar heat of adsorption is high and is of the order of 200-400 kJ mol-1.

(iv) High activation energy: although chemisorptions is exothermic, yet the process is slow at low temperature. It is because of high activation energy required for chemical process to occur. Like most of the chemical changes the extent of chemisorption increases initially with rise in temperature. High pressure is also supporting for chemisorption.

(v) Surface area: like physisorption, chemisorption also increases with increase in surface area of adsorbent.

(vi) State of adsorbate: since chemical reaction takes place in this type of adsorption, therefore, the molecular state of adsorbate molecules may be altered. For example, oxygen exists as O2, but on the surface where it is chemisorbed, it may exist as O2-, O22-, O-, O, O3-, etc.

(vii) Activation energy: chemical adsorption involves a chemical reaction between adsorbent and adsorbate; therefore, it requires high activation energy.

The adsorption of N2 on iron under two different conditions provides distinction between physisorption and chemisorption. At 83 K nitrogen gas undergoes physical adsorption on iron surface. N2 molecules are amount of N2 adsorbed decreases with further rise in temperature. At room temperature there is almost again shows adsorption as N atoms on the iron surface. This mode of adsorption is chemical adsorption as atoms form chemical bonds with iron atoms.

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Question based on vapour pressure While

    While a substance is dissolved in a solvent, the vapour pressure of the solvent is decreased. This results in: (a) An increase in the boiling point of the solution (b) A decrease in the boiling point of solvent (c) The solution having a higher freezing point than

    		•
  • Q : Relationship between free energy and

    The free energy of a gas depends on the pressure that confines the gas. The standard free energies of formation, like those allow predictions to be made of the possibility of a reaction at 25°C for each reagent at 

    		•
  • Q : What are biodegradable polymers?

      These are polymers that can be broken into small segments by enzyme-catalysed reactions. The required enzymes are produced by microorganism. It is a known fact that the carbon-carbon bonds of chain growth polymers are inert to enzyme-catalysed reactions, and hence they are non biod

    		•
  • Q : Modes of concentration Which of the

    Which of the given modes of expressing concentration is fully independent of temperature: (1) Molarity (2) Molality (3) Formality (4) Normality Choose the right answer from above.

    		•
  • Q : Explain gels and its various categories.

    Certain sols have the property of setting to a semi-solid, jelly-like form by enclosing the entire amount of liquid within itself when they are present at high concentrations. This process is called gelation and colloidal systems with jelly-like appearance are known as gels. Some common examples

    		•
  • Q : Decision about dipole moment is present

    How can you decide if there is a dipole moment or not?

    		•
  • Q : Modern periodic table and Mendeleevs

    Differentiate between the modern periodic table and Mendeleevs table?

    		•
  • Q : Question based on vapour pressure and

    Benzene and toluene form nearly ideal solutions. At 20°C, the vapour pressure of benzene is 75 torr and that of toluene is 22 torr. The parial vapour pressure of benzene at 20°C for a solution containing 78g of benzene and 46g of toluene in torr is: (a) 50 (b)

    		•
  • Q : Problem based on molecular weight

    Select the right answer of the question. Molecular weight of urea is 60. A solution of urea containing 6g urea in one litre is : (a)1 molar (b)1.5 molar (c) 0.1 molar (d) 0.01 molar

    		•
  • Q : Chem Silicon has three naturally

    Silicon has three naturally occurring isotopes. 28Si, mass = 27.976927; 29Si, mass = 28.976495; 30Si, mass = 29.973770 and 3.10% abundance. What is the abundance of 28Si?

    		•