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Surface Chemistry formulas

Master Surface Chemistry through 22 JEE Advanced-level formulas, systematically structured with every variable spelled out. Revise concept-wise, identify the areas where you need improvement, and focus your preparation with greater precision.

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Surface Chemistry, every formula

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Freundlich adsorption isotherm
$\frac{x}{m} = k P^{1/ n}$
Q1MCQFreundlich
The Freundlich adsorption isotherm is:
- A
  $\dfrac{x}{m}=k P^{1/n}$
- B
  $\dfrac{x}{m}=kP$
- C
  $\dfrac{x}{m}=\dfrac{k}{P}$
- D
  $\dfrac{x}{m}=k$
Freundlich (log form)
$lo g \frac{x}{m} = lo g k + \frac{1}{n} lo g P$
Q1MCQFreundlich log
A plot of $\log\dfrac{x}{m}$ versus $\log P$ is:
- A
  a straight line of slope $\dfrac1n$
- B
  a parabola
- C
  a hyperbola
- D
  a circle
Langmuir isotherm
$\frac{x}{m} = \frac{a P}{1 + b P}$
Q1MCQLangmuir
The Langmuir adsorption isotherm is:
- A
  $\dfrac{aP}{1+bP}$
- B
  $kP^{1/n}$
- C
  $kP$
- D
  $\dfrac{k}{P}$
Physisorption vs chemisorption
$physisorption: van der Waals; chemisorption: chemical bond$
Q1MCQPhysi vs chemi
Chemisorption involves:
- A
  a chemical bond
- B
  van der Waals forces
- C
  no bonding
- D
  ionic dissolution
Enthalpy of physisorption
$Δ H \approx 20 - 40 kJ/mol (low)$
Q1MCQPhysisorption ΔH
The enthalpy of physisorption is about:
- A
  $20$–$40$ kJ/mol
- B
  $80$–$240$ kJ/mol
- C
  $500$ kJ/mol
- D
  $0$
Enthalpy of chemisorption
$Δ H \approx 80 - 240 kJ/mol (high)$
Q1MCQChemisorption ΔH
The enthalpy of chemisorption is about:
- A
  $80$–$240$ kJ/mol
- B
  $20$–$40$ kJ/mol
- C
  $0$
- D
  $5$ kJ/mol
Adsorption is exothermic
$Δ H < 0$
Q1MCQAdsorption exothermic
Adsorption is generally:
- A
  exothermic ($\Delta H<0$)
- B
  endothermic
- C
  athermal
- D
  $\Delta H=0$
Gibbs equation (adsorption)
$Δ G = Δ H - T Δ S < 0$
Q1MCQGibbs adsorption
For spontaneous adsorption, $\Delta G$ is:
- A
  negative
- B
  positive
- C
  zero
- D
  infinite
Extent of adsorption
$\frac{x}{m} = amount adsorbed per gram$
Q1MCQExtent
The quantity $\dfrac{x}{m}$ represents:
- A
  amount adsorbed per gram of adsorbent
- B
  the pressure
- C
  the temperature
- D
  the surface area
Effect of temperature (physisorption)
$decreases with rising T$
Q1MCQTemperature effect
Physisorption with increasing temperature:
- A
  decreases
- B
  increases
- C
  is unaffected
- D
  becomes chemisorption
Gold number
$protective power \propto \frac{1}{gold number}$
Q1MCQGold number
A smaller gold number means the protective colloid has:
- A
  greater protective power
- B
  lower protective power
- C
  no protective power
- D
  more charge
Tyndall effect
$scattering of light by colloidal particles$
Q1MCQTyndall effect
The Tyndall effect is due to:
- A
  scattering of light by colloidal particles
- B
  absorption of light
- C
  reflection by ions
- D
  diffraction
Colloid particle size
$1 - 1000 nm$
Q1MCQColloid size
The particle size of a colloid is in the range:
- A
  $1$–$1000$ nm
- B
  $<1$ nm
- C
  $>10\,\mu$m
- D
  $1$–$10$ mm
Hardy–Schulze rule
$coagulating power \propto ion charge$
Q1MCQHardy–Schulze
By the Hardy–Schulze rule, coagulating power increases with:
- A
  the charge of the added ion
- B
  the size of the ion
- C
  the mass of the ion
- D
  nothing
Brownian motion
$random zig-zag motion of colloidal particles$
Q1MCQBrownian motion
Brownian motion of colloidal particles is:
- A
  random zig-zag motion
- B
  straight-line motion
- C
  circular motion
- D
  no motion
Emulsion types
$o/w and w/o$
Q1MCQEmulsion types
The two types of emulsions are:
- A
  oil-in-water and water-in-oil
- B
  solid-in-gas
- C
  gas-in-liquid
- D
  solid-in-solid
Catalyst and Ea
$catalyst lowers activation energy$
Q1MCQCatalyst
A catalyst increases the reaction rate by:
- A
  lowering the activation energy
- B
  raising the temperature
- C
  changing $\Delta H$
- D
  changing $K$
Enzyme catalysis
$highly specific, biological catalyst$
Q1MCQEnzyme catalysis
Enzyme catalysis is characterised by:
- A
  high specificity
- B
  no specificity
- C
  high temperature only
- D
  irreversibility
Adsorption isobar (chemisorption)
$increases then decreases with T$
Q1MCQChemisorption isobar
With rising temperature, chemisorption first:
- A
  increases then decreases
- B
  only decreases
- C
  only increases
- D
  is constant
Micelle formation (CMC)
$above critical micelle concentration$
Q1MCQCMC
Micelles form above the:
- A
  critical micelle concentration
- B
  boiling point
- C
  freezing point
- D
  critical temperature
Peptization
$converting a precipitate into a colloid$
Q1MCQPeptization
Peptization is the process of:
- A
  converting a precipitate into a colloid
- B
  coagulating a colloid
- C
  dissolving a gas
- D
  evaporating a solution
Coagulation
$aggregation of colloidal particles into a precipitate$
Q1MCQCoagulation
Coagulation is the:
- A
  aggregation of colloidal particles
- B
  formation of a colloid
- C
  scattering of light
- D
  adsorption of a gas

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Surface Chemistry formulas

Surface Chemistry, every formula

Freundlich adsorption isotherm

Freundlich (log form)

Langmuir isotherm

Physisorption vs chemisorption

Enthalpy of physisorption

Enthalpy of chemisorption

Adsorption is exothermic

Gibbs equation (adsorption)

Extent of adsorption

Effect of temperature (physisorption)

Gold number

Tyndall effect

Colloid particle size

Hardy–Schulze rule

Brownian motion

Emulsion types

Catalyst and Ea

Enzyme catalysis

Adsorption isobar (chemisorption)

Micelle formation (CMC)

Peptization

Coagulation

More JEE Advanced Chemistry formula sheets

Other ways to revise this chapter

Preparing students for India’s top institutes

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