What is chemisorption?

Chemisorption refers to the process in which a substance, typically a gas, forms a chemical bond with the surface of a solid material. This bonding is typically characterized by a stronger interaction compared to physisorption, which involves only physical forces. In chemisorption, there are actual chemical reactions occurring at the molecular level between the adsorbate (the substance being adsorbed) and the adsorbent (the material that is adsorbing).

This distinct characteristic is important because it can result in a more permanent attachment of the molecules to the surface, often changing the chemical properties of the adsorbent. Understanding this process is crucial in fields such as catalysis, filtration, and surface chemistry where the interaction between different materials is a key focus.

Other choices do not accurately define chemisorption. For instance, the first option describes a physical trapping mechanism, which is not chemical in nature. The third option talks about the binding of gases, but without specifying the chemical reaction that occurs on the surface, it lacks the depth needed to define chemisorption specifically. Similarly, discussing the adsorption of water vapor pertains to a different context that is more closely associated with physisorption rather than the stronger, chemically bonding interactions characteristic of chemisor