Chemisorption

Chemisorption (pronounced: kem-ee-sorp-shun) is a type of Adsorption where a molecule or ion is bound to a surface via a chemical bond.

Etymology

The term "Chemisorption" is derived from the words "chemical" and "adsorption". "Chemical" comes from the Latin word "chemia", meaning "the art of transmuting metals", and "adsorption" comes from the Latin word "adsorbere", meaning "to suck in".

Related Terms

Physisorption: This is a type of adsorption where the molecule or ion is bound to the surface via van der Waals forces rather than a chemical bond.
Desorption: This is the process by which a substance is released from or through a surface. This is the reverse of adsorption (and thus chemisorption and physisorption).
Catalysis: Chemisorption is an important process in many catalytic reactions. The reactant is chemisorbed onto the catalyst, allowing the reaction to take place.
Surface science: This is the study of physical and chemical phenomena that occur at the interface of two phases, including solid–liquid interfaces, solid–gas interfaces, solid–vacuum interfaces, and liquid–gas interfaces. Chemisorption is a key process studied in surface science.