Pronunciation: [ɐdsˈɔːb] (IPA) 
The word "adsorb" is spelled with a "d" in the middle, not a "b". This is because the word comes from the Latin word "adsorbere", which means "to suck up or absorb". In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /ædˈzɔrb/. The "d" sound is spelled with a "d" because it is a voiced consonant, meaning that the vocal cords vibrate when producing the sound. The "s" and "b" sounds, on the other hand, are both voiceless consonants.
To Adsorb: (verb)
Adsorb is a term used in chemistry and physics to describe the process by which a substance gathers on the surface of another substance, forming a thin layer or film. In this process, the molecules or atoms of the adsorbing substance adhere to the surface of the adsorbent material through various intermolecular forces such as van der Waals interactions or hydrogen bonding, without penetrating or diffusing into the bulk of the adsorbing substance. The adsorbate, i.e., the substance being adsorbed, may exist in liquid, gas, or solution form.
Adsorption typically occurs due to attractive forces between the adsorbate and the surface molecules of the adsorbent material. These forces cause the molecules or atoms to be more attracted to the surface than to each other, leading to an accumulation of the adsorbate on the adsorbent surface.
The adsorption process plays a crucial role in various applications, such as purification, separation, and catalysis. It is used in areas like water treatment, gas purification, and the removal of pollutants from air or liquids. Moreover, adsorption is fundamental to technologies such as activated carbon filters and catalysts.
It is important to distinguish adsorption from absorption, as adsorption occurs only at the surface of the adsorbent material, while absorption involves the penetration of a substance into a bulk material.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "adsorb" was coined in the late 19th century from the Latin prefix "ad-", meaning "to" or "towards", and the word "absorb". In chemistry, "adsorption" refers to the process by which molecules adhere or stick to the surface of a solid or liquid. The term was specifically created to differentiate this process from "absorption", where molecules are taken up and distributed within the substance itself. The addition of the "d" in "adsorb" was likely influenced by the parallel between "adsorption" and "absorption". Overall, the term was developed to describe a specific type of surface attachment in scientific discourse.
