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Surface Chemistry Class 12 Notes Chemistry

ADSORPTION
Reversible and irreversible adsorption
The adsorption is reversible, if the adsorbent can be easily removed from the surface of the adsorbent by physical methods. It is called irreversible adsorption, if the adsorbate can not be removed from the surface of the adsorbent.
A gas adsorbed on a solid surface can be completely removed in vacuum. It is, therefore, reversible adsorption. Examples of irreversible adsorption are adsorption of oxygen on tungsten adsorbate and adsorption of CO on tungsten surface

Adsorbent, Adsorbate and Interface

  • The substances upon whose surface the change of concentration occurs, is called absorbent.
  • The substance taken up on the surface is call adsorbate.
  • The common surface between the two phases where the adsorbed molecules concentrate is called the interface.

Physisorption and Chemosorption:

Physisorption
Chemisorption
Only van der Waals force are present between adsorbate and surface of adsorbent
 
Chemical bonds are formed between adsorbate and surface of adsorbent
Low enthalpy of adsorption ie, in the order of 20 kjmol-1.
 
High enthalpy of adsorption i.e, order of 200 kjmol-1.
Reversible
Irreversible
It is usually takes place at low temperature  and does not require any activation energy.
It takes place at high temperature and require activation energy..
Multi molecular layer of adsorbate are formed on the surface
Only  monomolecular layers are formed.
Not specific.
Highly specific.


Langmular Isotherm:
If A, B & AB represents the adsorbed, absorbent and the absorbed – adsorbent complex then,
Surface Chemistry Class 12 Notes Chemistry
A + B ↔AB
ka = Equilibrium constant for adsorption = [AB]/[A][B]
kd = Equilibrium constant for desorption = [A][B]/[AB]
K = Distribution coefficient = ka/kb
Θ = Fraction of the surface of adsorbent available for adsorption.
P = pressure
So,
Θ= KP/(1+KP)     (Langmular Equation)

Freundlich Isotherm:
x= Mass of the gas adsorbed
m = Mass of absorbent
p = Pressure
K and n = constants
Surface Chemistry Class 12 Notes Chemistry

x/m =k.p(1/n)                 [n >1]

or

log x/m = log k + 1/n log P


Factors Affecting Adsorption:

  • Temperature: An increase of temperature leads to a decrease in amount adsorbed and vice – versa.
  • Pressure or concentration: It has been found that in most cases, the adsorption is reversible and an increased pressure of a gases vapour or an increase in concentration of a solute causes increased adsorption.
  • Nature of Adsorbate and Adsorbent: The amount of the gas adsorbed depends upon the nature of adsorbent and the gas (adsorbate), which is to be adsorbed. It has been found that easily liquifiable gases such as NH3, HCl, Cl2 , SO2 CO2  etc. are more readily adsorbed than so the called permanent gases such as O2,N2, H2 etc. This is because that molecules of the former type of gases have greater Vander waal’s or molecular force of attraction.

Colloids
Dispersed Phase:
The phase which is dispersed or scattered through the dispersion medium is called Dispersed phase or discontinuous phase.

Dispersion Medium:
The phase in which the scattering is done is called the dispersion medium or continuous medium.

Dispersed Phase
Dispersion Medium
Name
Typical example
Solid
Liquid
Sol
Gold sol, Mud, Fe(OH)3 sol,
Solid
Solid
Solid sol
Gems, Ruby glass, Minerals 
Solid
Gas
Aero sols
Smoke (Carbon in air) Volcanic dust
Liquid
Solid
Gel
Curd, Cheese, Jellies
Liquid
Liquid
Emulsion
Milk, water in benzene, cream
Liquid
Gas
Liquid aerosol
Clouds, fog (water in air) mist
Gas
Solid
Solid foam
Lava, Pumica
Gas
Liquid
Foam
Froth on beer , whipped cream


Lyophobic and Lyophilic Colloids:
Those substance whose colloidal solution cannot be prepared by bringing them in contact with a solvent are called Lyophobic (disliking, fearing or hating a liquid). On the other hand those substances whose colloidal solutions can be prepared by bringing them in contact with a liquid solvent are called lyophilic colloids (loving a solvent).

Emulsions:

  • Emulsion of oil in water: Those emulsions in which the dispersed phase is oil and water is the dispersion medium. These emulsion are generally represented as O in W emulsions. Examples are milk, vanishing cream etc.
  • Emulsions of water in oil: Those emulsion in which the dispersed phase is water while oil is the dispersion medium. These emulsion are generally represented as W in O emulsions. Examples are butter, ice cream etc.

Difference between True Solutions, Suspension & Colloids

True solution 
Suspension 
Colloid
Homogenous
Heterogeneous
Heterogeneous
Particle size less than 1nm
Particle size more than 1000nm
Particle size between 1-1000nm
Don’t settle down
Settle down under the influence of gravity
Don’t settle down
Complements cannot be separated out by filtration
Can be filtered
Can be filtered using special filter papers
Don’t show tyndrall effect
Show tyndrall effect
Show tyndrall effect


Methods of preparation of colloids
Chemical Methods:
Surface Chemistry Class 12 Notes Chemistry 

Bredig's method:
An electric arc is struck between two metallic electrodes immersed in dispersion medium. The arc produced vapourises the metal which on further condensation produces particles of colloidal size.
Surface Chemistry Class 12 Notes Chemistry

  • Peptization: 
    Process of converting a precipitate into colloidal sol by shaking it with electrolyte
    in dispersion medium.

Hardy Schulze Rule:

  • Ion carrying charge opposite to the colloidal particle has capacity to coagulate the colloid.
  • Greater the valency of ion, greater will be the coagulating power.
  • Gold Number:  The minimum amount of lyophilic colloid in milligrams which can prevent the coagulation of 10 ml gold sol against 1 ml of 10% NaCl solution. 

Surfactants
substances which gets preferentially adsorbed at the air – water and solid – water interfaces forming an oriented monolayer where the hydrophilic groups point towards the aqueous phase and the hydrocarbon chain point towards the air or towards the oil phase.

  • Anionic surfactants : NSodium salts of higher fatty acids such as sodium palmitate (C15H31COONa), sodium stereate (C17H35COONa) and sodium Oleate (C17H33COONa).
  • Catiuonic Surfactants: Those which dissociates in water to yield positively charged ions examples: C18H37 , C16H33(CH3) etc.
  • Non ionogenic: Those whose molecules cannot undergo dissociation when an alcohol having a higher molecular weight reacts with several molecules of ethylene oxide, a non – ionogenic surfactant is produced.
    Surface Chemistry Class 12 Notes Chemistry

Micelle: 
Aggregates formed when the surfactant molecules in the water air interface become so packed in the monolayer that no more molecules can be accumulated with ease they accumulate in the bulk of the solution.
At a given temperature and concentration, a micelle of a surfactant of monodispersed i.e., they contain same number of molecules usually between 25 to 100.
Critical concentration for micelle formation decreases as the molecular weight of hydrocarbon chain of surfactant grows because in this case true solubility diminishes and the tendency of surfactant molecules to associate increases.

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FAQs on Surface Chemistry Class 12 Notes Chemistry

1. What is surface chemistry?
Ans. Surface chemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the study of chemical reactions that occur at the interface of two phases, usually a solid and a liquid or a solid and a gas. It focuses on the behavior and properties of substances at the molecular level on surfaces or in the vicinity of surfaces.
2. What are adsorption and absorption?
Ans. Adsorption is the process by which molecules from a gas or liquid are attracted and accumulate on the surface of a solid or liquid substance. Absorption, on the other hand, refers to the process in which a substance is taken up and retained by another substance, such as a liquid or a solid. In absorption, the substance is uniformly distributed throughout the bulk of the absorbing material.
3. How does surface chemistry affect catalysis?
Ans. Surface chemistry plays a crucial role in catalysis. The surface of a catalyst provides active sites where reactant molecules can adsorb and undergo chemical reactions. The adsorption of reactant molecules onto the catalyst's surface allows for the formation of temporary bonds, which lower the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. This enhances the efficiency of the catalytic process.
4. What are surfactants and their applications in surface chemistry?
Ans. Surfactants, also known as surface-active agents, are compounds that lower the surface tension between two liquids, or between a liquid and a solid. They have a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail. Surfactants find applications in various fields of surface chemistry, including emulsification, detergency, foaming, wetting, and dispersing. They are commonly used in household cleaning products, personal care products, and industrial processes.
5. How does surface area affect the rate of a chemical reaction?
Ans. Increasing the surface area of a solid reactant can significantly increase the rate of a chemical reaction. This is because a larger surface area provides more active sites for reactant molecules to come into contact with each other, leading to a higher frequency of successful collisions. Consequently, the reaction rate is enhanced due to the increased probability of effective collisions between the reactant molecules.

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