Surface Chemistry

Question

Adsorption of a gas on the surface of solid is generally accompanied by decrease in entropy. Still it is a spontaneous process. Explain.

Answer

Answer:

As adsorption is exothermic. it leads to a decrease in the residual force on the surface of  the adsorbent. This cause a decrease in the surface energy of the adsorbent. When gas is adsorbed on the surface of solid entropy decrease, i.e., ΔS = –ve. Since ΔH = –ve, ΔS= –ve, for adsorption to be spontaneous AG must be negative [ΔG = ΔH – TΔS].

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