--%>

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 : What is Distillation Separation by

    Separation by distillation can be described with a boiling point diagram. The important process of distillation can now be investigated. From the boiling point diagram one can see that if a small amount of vapour were removed from a liquid of composit

  • Q : Raoults law Give me answer of this

    Give me answer of this question. Provide solution of this question. Which one of the following is the expression of Raoult's law: (a) P-P1/P = n/n+N (b) P1-P/P = N/ N+n (c)P-P2/P1= N/ N-n (d) P1-P/P2= N-n/N

  • Q : Crystals of covalent compounds Crystals

    Crystals of the covalent compounds always contain:(i) Atoms as their structural units  (ii) Molecules as structural units  (iii) Ions held altogether by electrostatic forces (iv) High melting pointsAnswer: (i)

  • Q : Base parachloroaniline is strong base

    parachloroaniline is strong base than paranitroaniline

  • Q : Problem on volumetric flow rate Methane

    Methane containing 4 mol% N2 is flowing through a pipeline at 105.1 kpa and 22 °C. To check this flow rate, N2 at the same temperature and pressure are introduced to the pipeline at the rate of 2.83 m3/min. At the end of the pipe (

  • Q : Molarity based question Help me to

    Help me to solve this problem. 4.0 gm of NaOH are contained in one decilitre of solution. Its molarity would be: (a) 4 M (b)2 M (c)1 M (d)1.5 M

  • Q : Describe Enzyme Catalyzed reactions

    Many enzyme catalyzed reactions obeys a complex rate equation that can be written as the total quantity of enzyme and the whole amount of substrate in the reaction system. Many rate equations that are more complex than first and se

  • Q : Question on seminormal solution Provide

    Provide solution of this question. The weight of sodium carbonate required to prepare 500 ml of a seminormal solution is: (a) 13.25 g (b) 26.5 g (c) 53 g (d) 6.125 g

  • Q : What is Elevation in boiling point? The

    The boiling of a liquid may be defused by the temperature at which its vapour pressure which is equal to atmospheric pressure. The effect of addition in a non-volatile solute on the boiling point shown and its solution containing non-volatile solute with tempe

  • 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