adsorb

American  

[ad-sawrb, -zawrb] / ædˈsɔrb, -ˈzɔrb /

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.

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adsorb British  

/ 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

   to adsorb hydrogen on nickel

   oxygen adsorbs on tungsten

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Other Word Forms

• adsorbability noun
• adsorbable adjective
• adsorbent adjective
• adsorption noun
• adsorptive adjective
• adsorptively adverb

Etymology

Origin of adsorb

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

Example Sentences

The metal ions make nodes that bind the linkers' arms to form a repeating structure that looks something like a cage; the structure has nanosized pores that adsorb gases, similar to a sponge.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2024

Rohde, Long and their colleagues are exploring variants of this metal hydride MOF to see what other gases they can adsorb, and also modifications that will allow such materials to adsorb even more CO2.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

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 • May 30, 2024

Finally, it will be run through huge tanks of granular activated carbon, which will adsorb any residual hydrogen peroxide and remove other harmful compounds.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2022

Such ‘breathing’ and ‘gating’ may make it easier, or harder, than expected for a synthesized MOF to adsorb a chemical.

From Nature