What is the difference between physisorption and chemisorption?
Explanation During the phenomena of adsorption, the adsorbate molecules are attracted by the adsorbent surface. Due to this attraction, the adsorbate molecules get bonded to adsorbent surface with a particular type of bond. Depending upon the type of bond formed, adsorption is called physisorption or chemisorption. In chemisorption, the nature of bond is chemical, i.e. ionic or covalent bonds are formed. These bonds are strong in nature and hence chemisorption is very effective and not easily reversible. In physisorption, the bonds are of physical nature, i.e. wander waal forces. These forces are weaker in comparison to ionic or covalent bonds, hence physisorption is less effective and can be reversed back.
