Intermolecular interactions single-component molecule systems

As a molecule approaches the solid surface, a balance is established between the intermolecular attractive and repulsive forces. If other molecules are already adsorbed, both adsorbent-adsorbate and adsorbate-adsorbate interactions come into play. It is at once evident that assessment of the adsorption energy is likely to become exceedingly complicated in the case of a multicomponent system - especially if the adsorption is taking place from solution at a liquid-solid interface. For this reason, in the numerous attempts made to calculate energies of adsorption, most attention has been given to the adsorption of a single component at the gas-solid interface. 

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