Question

What is the Phenomenon called when the molecules absorbed on the surface are released for any reason?
(A). Sorption
(B). Desorption
(C). Adsorption
(D). Precipitation

Answer 1

Hint: Many reactions do not react in the air or in a solution, they require a surface on which all the reactants come together and via bond formation leads to product. This branch of chemistry, which deals with the study of the phenomenon taking place on the surface, is said to be surface chemistry. One of the most observable surface chemistry reactions is the formation of dust on solid surfaces.

Complete answer:
The branch of chemistry which deals with the study of chemical changes taking place on the surface is known as surface chemistry. The founding fathers of this branch are Paul Sabatier, Fritz Haber, Irving Langmuir, and Gerhard Ertl.
Few definitions of surface chemistry are as follows: -
The definition of Sorption is the phenomenon when the molecules absorbed on the surface are released for any reason.
 The definition of Desorption is the phenomenon, in which there is the release of the absorbed substance from a surface.
The definition of Adsorption is the phenomenon, in which the gaseous or the liquid phase molecules are made to hold on the solid surface.
The definition of Precipitation is the phenomenon, in which two or more ions in an aqueous solution are made to react in such a way that an insoluble salt is prepared.
The correct answer is (A). Sorption.

Note:
The term sorption can also be linked with the collective meaning of the adsorption and absorption both taking place at the same time. For example sponge in water, dyes absorbed as well as adsorbed in fiber-like cotton, etc. One of the founding fathers of surface chemistry, Irving Langmuir proposed his famous theory related to Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm.