Sorption 1

Sorption
Sorption refers to the action of absorption or adsorption:
• Absorption is the incorporation of a substance in one state into another of a different state (e.g., liquids being
absorbed by a solid or gases being absorbed by a liquid).
• Adsorption is the physical adherence or bonding of ions and molecules onto the surface of another phase (e.g.,
reagents adsorbed to solid catalyst surface).

Absorption
Absorption, in chemistry, is a physical or chemical
phenomenon or a process in which atoms, molecules,
or ions enter some bulk phase - gas, liquid, or solid
material. This is a different process from adsorption,
since molecules undergoing absorption are taken up by
the volume, not by the surface (as in the case for
adsorption). A more general term is "sorption", which
covers absorption, adsorption, and ion exchange.
Absorption is a condition in which something takes in
another substance.[1]

If absorption is a physical process not accompanied by

any other physical or chemical process, it usually
follows the Nernst partition law:
"the ratio of concentrations of some solute
species in two bulk phases in contact is constant
for a given solute and bulk phases":

Laboratory absorber. 1a): CO2 inlet; 1b): H2O inlet; 2): outlet; 3):
absorption column; 4): packing.

The value of constant KN depends on temperature and is called partition coefficient. This equation is valid if
concentrations are not too large and if the species "x" does not change its form in any of the two phases "1" or "2". If
such molecule undergoes association or dissociation then this equation still describes the equilibrium between "x" in
both phases, but only for the same form - concentrations of all remaining forms must be calculated by taking into
account all the other equilibria.[1]
In the case of gas absorption, one may calculate its concentration by using, e.g., the Ideal gas law, c = p/RT. In
alternative fashion, one may use partial pressures instead of concentrations.
In many processes important in technology, the chemical absorption is used in place of the physical process, e.g.,
absorption of carbon dioxide by sodium hydroxide - such acid base processes do not follow the Nernst partition law.
Sorption 2

For some examples of this effect, see liquid-liquid extraction. It is possible to extract from one liquid phase to
another a solute without a chemical reaction. Examples of such solutes are noble gases and osmium tetroxide.[1]

Other examples
An old method of gold mining involves the absorption of gold into mercury.
A more current use of this word in is reference to spectrophotometry, wherein the amount of light absorbed by a
chemical bond is measured.[1]

References
[1] McMurry, John (2003). Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (Fifth ed.). Agnus McDonald. pp. 409. ISBN 0534395732.
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Article Sources and Contributors

Sorption  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=412340659  Contributors: 16@r, Aboalbiss, Ajbiasutto, Alexf, Aushulz, Bharris2, ChemicalBit, Dimboukas, Dj Capricorn,
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