adsorb

[ ad-sawrb, -zawrb ]

verb (used with object)

, Physical Chemistry.

1. to gather (a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) on a surface in a condensed layer:

   Charcoal will adsorb gases.

adsorb

/ ədˈsɔːb; -ˈzɔːb /

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a substance, usually a gas, accumulates on the surface of a solid forming a thin film, often only one molecule thick Compare absorb

   oxygen adsorbs on tungsten

   to adsorb hydrogen on nickel

Derived Forms

• adˈsorption, noun
• adˈsorbable, adjective
• adˌsorbaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• ad·sorba·ble adjective
• ad·sorba·bili·ty noun
• ad·sorbent adjective noun
• ad·sorp·tion [ad-, sawrp, -sh, uh, n, -, zawrp, -], noun
• ad·sorptive adjective
• ad·sorptive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of adsorb¹

First recorded in 1880–85; ad- + (ab)sorb

Word History and Origins

Origin of adsorb¹

C19: ad- + -sorb as in absorb

Example Sentences

Like all MOFs, the material features a porous, crystalline array of metal ions and organic linkers, with an internal area equivalent to about six football fields per tablespoon -- a huge area for adsorbing gases.

From Science Daily

First they used classical computers to model how molecules adsorb and desorb from catalyst particles; then they applied their quantum computer to identify the most likely reaction pathway of the electrons and protons involved.

From Science Magazine

Moreover, the presence of adsorbed water molecules in MOFs further reduces their effective thermal conductivity.

From Science Daily

To overcome this, scientists at UCL, in collaboration with Yaqrit, developed tiny oral carbon beads, that have a special microscopic physical structure designed to adsorb both large and small molecules in the gut.

From Science Daily

They found that hydrogen does not stay inside sandstone after it is pumped out, but up to 10% of the adsorbed gas got stuck inside the shale sample, Ho said.

From Science Daily