Surface Chemistry - Result Question 4
4. A gas undergoes physical adsorption on a surface and follows the given Freundlich adsorption isotherm equation $\frac{x}{m}=K p^{0.5}$
Adsorption of the gas increases with
(a) increase in $p$ and increase in $T$
(b) increase in $p$ and decrease in $T$
(c) decrease in $p$ and decrease in $T$
(d) decrease in $p$ and increase in $T$
(2019 Main, 10 April I)
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Answer:
Correct Answer: 4. (b)
Solution:
For physisorption or physical adsorption,
Adsorption isotherm (Temperature, $T=$ constant) is shown below:
where, $x=$ amount of adsorbate, $m=$ amount of adsorbent,
$\frac{x}{m}=$ degree of adsorption
$\frac{1}{n}=$ order of the reaction, where, $0<\frac{1}{n}<1$ and so,
$ 1 < n >\infty $
Here, $$ \frac{x}{m}=K p^{\frac{1}{2}} \text {, } $$ i.e. $$ \frac{x}{m} \propto p^{\frac{1}{2}} $$
$\text { Adsorption isobar (Pressure, } p=\text { constant) }$
So, the rate of physical adsorption of the gas, increases with $p$ (when, $T$ is constant) and decreases with $T$ (when $p$ is constant).