Physical adsorption

Physical adsorption, or physisorption, is a process where molecules stick to the surface of a solid material through weak forces, much like how dust clings to a surface. This occurs due to Van der Waals forces, which are temporary attractions between molecules. Unlike chemical bonding, physical adsorption is generally reversible and does not involve any significant change to the molecules or the surface. This phenomenon is important in various applications, such as gas storage, catalysis, and separation processes, as it allows materials to hold onto substances without altering them chemically.