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Chapter 26: Problem 4

The process of adsorption is (a) exothermic (b) endothermic (c) sometimes exothermic, sometimes endothermic (d) none of the above

Short Answer

Expert verified
The answer is (a) exothermic. Adsorption is generally an exothermic process because it leads to a decrease in surface energy which is compensated by the release of heat to the surroundings.

Step by step solution

01

Understand adsorption

Adsorption refers to the process by which atoms, ions, or molecules from a substance (it could be gas, liquid or dissolved solids) adhere to a surface of an adsorbent.
02

Exothermic vs. Endothermic

In chemistry, the term exothermic refers to a process or reaction that releases energy from the system, usually in the form of heat, while endothermic refers to a process or reaction that absorbs energy in the form of heat.
03

Analyze the nature of adsorption

Adsorption is a process that occurs on the surface of an adsorbent. When the adsorbate gets adsorbed on the surface of the adsorbent, forces of attraction are established between the two. This leads to a decrease in residual forces on the surface of the solid. Hence, this process leads to a decrease in the surface energy of the adsorbent. To make up for this decrease in energy, heat is released to the surroundings, making adsorption generally an exothermic process.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Multimolecular layers are formed in (a) adsorption (b) physical adsorption (c) chemisorption (d) reversible adsorption

At low pressure, the amount of the gas adsorbed is ____ proportional to the pressure. (a) directly (b) inversely (c) sometimes directly, sometimes inversely (d) none of these

Chemisorption generally ____ with temperature. (a) increases (b) decreases (c) remains the same (d) none of these

The adsorption of gases on metal surfaces is called (a) catalysis (b) occlusion (c) adsorption (d) absorption

Freundlich isotherms is not applicable at (a) high pressure (b) low pressure (c) \(273 \mathrm{~K}\) (d) room temperature
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