Interfacial Phenomena

Abstract

In this chapter, we will discuss how the chemical and physical properties of substances at interfaces differ from those in the bulk. For quantitative description, quantities like surface tension and surface energy have to be introduced. With the help of these quantities, phenomena known from everyday life like the lotus effect can be explained. However, perhaps you are more interested to learn how detergents clean? Then have a look at Sect. 16.3 which deals with the adsorption on liquid surfaces. The next section covers the adsorption on solid surfaces and the variation of the extent of coverage with pressure or concentration of the substance to be adsorbed. Langmuir’s isotherm, the simplest description of such an adsorption process, is deduced by kinetic interpretation of the adsorption equilibrium. Alternatively, it can be derived by introducing the chemical potential of free and occupied sites and considering the equilibrium condition. In the last part of the chapter, some important applications such as surface measurement and adsorption chromatography are discussed.