What is the difference between absorption and adsorption?

Absortion usually implies that absrobed subnstance goes into the bulk of material, while adsorption means it goes to the surface ...

As far as I know, absorption involves the absorption of one substance into the mass of another substance, while desorption involves the adhesion of molecules to the surface of another substance.

The main difference is that while absorption involves the mass transfer of particles into another material (one substance absorbing another), adsorption takes place with the adhesion of particles onto the surface of a substance. absorption is the process in which a fluid dissolves by a liquid or a solid. In the case of Adsorption, the atoms, ions, or molecules from a substance adhere to a surface of the adsorbent

Absorption is the process in which a solid (absorbent) or a liquid dissolves a fluid. On the other hand, adsorption is the process where ions, molecules, or atoms from a substance adhere to the surface of an adsorbent. Unlike absorption, adsorption is a surface-based process that creates an adsorbate film on the surface, while absorption involves the entire volume of the absorbing substance.

Absorption and adsorption are both processes involving the interaction of substances, but they are fundamentally different in terms of how they occur and where the interacting substances are located.

Absorption:

Definition: Absorption is the process in which one substance (the absorbate) is taken up into the interior of another substance (the absorbent).

Mechanism: The absorbate permeates or is dissolved within the bulk of the absorbent, meaning it enters the entire volume of the absorbent.

Examples:

A sponge absorbing water.

Gases like carbon dioxide being absorbed by liquids such as water or oil.

The human digestive system absorbing nutrients from food.

Adsorption:

Definition: Adsorption is the process in which one substance (the adsorbate) adheres to the surface of another substance (the adsorbent).

Mechanism: The adsorbate molecules adhere to the surface of the adsorbent due to intermolecular forces such as van der Waals forces or chemical bonds. The process is limited to the surface area of the adsorbent.

Examples:

Activated charcoal adsorbing impurities from water or air.

Silica gel adsorbing moisture from the air.

Gas molecules adhering to the surface of a solid catalyst.

Key Differences:

Location:

Absorption: Absorbate enters the bulk phase of the absorbent.

Adsorption: Adsorbate adheres to the surface of the adsorbent.

Nature of Interaction:

Absorption: Involves the entire volume of the absorbent.

Adsorption: Involves only the surface of the adsorbent.

Examples:

Absorption: Sponge soaking up water, CO₂ absorbed by liquids.

Adsorption: Charcoal removing impurities, silica gel dehumidifying air.

Understanding these differences is crucial in various scientific and industrial applications, including environmental engineering, chemical processing, and material science.

In my opinion absorption refers to the interaction of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. UV, visible light, infrared) with matter. Adsorption refers to the take-up of gas or fluid by a solid substance. The reverse process (gas or fluid release) is termed desorption. For example, the adsorption or desorption of water vapour by dry solid at a given water activity (relative humidity) and temperature can be measured as a water vapour adsorption or desorption isotherm. In the case of starch powder (an assembly of starch particles), the adsorbed water vapour permeates the entire starch particle, not only the surface).

Adsorption is the adherence of molecules to the surface of another substance while Absorption is when one substance is taken in and evenly distributed throughout another

Absorption involves the whole volume of the absorbent, whereas adsorption is confined to the surface.

I agree with the answers above, but it becomes difficult to decide what to call it when you are dealing with a material where the whole body is made up of multiple surfaces e.g. clays, which are multiple micro layers and can end up taking in so much adsorbate that it becomes a very significant proportion of the end product and could then be referred to as absorption. In this case, we usually chose to say adsorbed onto the micro surfaces or even just sorption which slyly covers our inability to decide between absorption and adsorption.

The main difference between them is that adsorption is the adhesion of particles onto a substance, while absorption involves mass transfer into another material.

How about absorption of light,e.g., UV-visible absorption spectroscopy?

Dear Doctor

[Both absorption and adsorption are sorption processes. Sorption is a physical and chemical process through which one substance attaches to another. The main difference is that while absorption involves the mass transfer of particles into another material (one substance absorbing another), adsorption takes place with the adhesion of particles onto the surface of a susbtance.]

Absorption is the process in which a fluid dissolves by a liquid or a solid.

Adsorption, the atoms, ions, or molecules from a substance adhere to a surface of the adsorbent.

Absorption involves the bulk phase of the absorbent material. The substance being absorbed (the absorbate) penetrates into the interior of the absorbent material and is uniformly distributed throughout it.

While adsorption involves the surface of the adsorbent material. The substance being adsorbed (the adsorbate) adheres to the surface of the adsorbent, forming a film or layer.

Mohammad Hossein Khajehpour Absorption and adsorption are two different processes involving the uptake of substances.

Absorption is the process in which a substance penetrates into the bulk of the absorbing material. The substance is uniformly distributed throughout the material. For example, absorption of water by a sponge, by the roots of a plant.

Whereas adsorption is the process in which a substance adheres to the surface of a solid or liquid without penetrating its bulk. The substance accumulates on the surface. For example, Activated Charcoal used in water filters to adsorb impurities from drinking water; silica gel mostly used in packaging to adsorb moisture and keep products dry.

Basically, absorption involves the entire volume of the material, while adsorption involves only the surface.

The main difference between absorption and adsorption is that absorption is the process in which a fluid dissolves by a liquid or a solid. But, adsorption is the process in which atoms, ions or molecules from a substance (it could be gas, liquid or dissolved solid) adhere to a surface of the adsorbent.

Absorption is the process in which a fluid is dissolved by a liquid absorbent or a solid absorbent. While, Adsorption is the process in which atoms, ions or molecules from a substance (it could be gas, liquid or dissolved solid) adhere to a surface of the adsorbent.

Adsorption is the adhesion of molecules (or ions and atoms) to the surface of a solid or liquid. Here, the molecules accumulate only at the surface and do not enter the bulk of the adsorbing material.

While,

In absorption, the molecules (or ions and atoms) are assimilated (pass-through) throughout the bulk of the solid or liquid medium.

Jp Wu the general mechanism of adsorption and absorption is mass transfer, not in the form of energy. Taken from the example of UV absorption, it will be photon transfer through the material/surface.

Adsorption : The atoms, ions, or molecules from a substance adhere to a surface of the adsorbent.

Absorption and adsorption are two different processes involving the uptake of substances, but they occur in distinct ways and contexts:

Key Differences:

Understanding these differences is crucial in fields such as chemistry, environmental science, and material science, where these processes are often utilized in different applications.

Absorption is a process in which one substance is taken up into the interior of another substance. This means that the molecules of the absorbed material permeate throughout the entire volume of the absorbing material (absorbent). For example,oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream from the lungs.

But,

Adsorption is a process where molecules of a substance adhere to the surface of another material. This occurs at the surface level, with the adsorbed forming a thin layer on the adsorbent. An example of adsorption is activated charcoal trapping impurities from air or water on its surface.

For example, in our digestive system, absorption consists of passing food from the external environment (digestive tract) to the internal environment (blood or lymph). Adsorption is when an atom or molecule attaches to the surface of another object, without being ingested.

practical examples: a perfume adheres to the skin surface where it is adsorbed and hangs on for hours (named substantivity)

Would it be absorbed your breath would smell alike...as it then reflects percutaneous penetration and absorption

A very last one: champagne is sprayed at the end of a race and the liquid is adsorbed on clothes but not absorbed in the bodies of competitors and fans!

Dear Mohammad Hossein Khajehpour, I would like to indicate that adsorption is the phenomenon when substances whose molecules get adsorbed at the surface. Thus, the substance on whose surface the process takes place is called the adsorbent. It is a surface phenomenon. Contrarily, absorption is the process by which one material is absorbed into the interior of another. Therefore, adsorption compounds cling to the surface of the molecule, whereas absorption substances enter the bulk phase of a liquid or solid. For example, absorption is when a sponge absorbs water, whereas adsorption is when silica gel absorbs moisture.

Absorption is the process in which a liquid is dissolved by a liquid or solid. In the case of adsorption, the atoms, ions, or molecules in the substance stick to the surface of the adsorbent