Adsorption of Substances Solutes from Solution on Solid Surfaces

7 Adsorption of Substances (Solutes) from Solution on Solid Surfaces 

Any clean solid surface is actually an active center for adsorption from the surroundings, for example, air or liquid. In fact, a clean solid surface can only exist under vacuum. A perfectly cleaned metal surface, when exposed to air, will adsorb a single layer of oxygen or nitrogen (or water) (degree of adsorption will, of course, depend on the system). The most common example of much importance is the process of corrosion (an extensive economic cost) of iron when exposed to air. Or when a completely dry glass surface is exposed to air (with some moisture), the surface will adsorb a monolayer of water. In other words, the solid surface is not as inert as it may seem to the naked eye. 

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