5.5 What is an adsorption isotherm? Describe Freundlich adsorption isotherm.

Step 1: 

The plot between the extent of adsorption xm against the pressure of gas (P) at constant temperature (T) is called the adsorption isotherm.

The graph is as follows:



Step 2:

Freundlich adsorption isotherm:

Freundlich adsorption isotherm gives an empirical relationship between the quantity of gas adsorbed by the unit mass of solid adsorbent and pressure at a specific temperature.

Case I- At low pressure:

The plot is straight and sloping, indicating that the pressure directly proportional to

xmi.e.,xmα P.
xm=kP              (k is a constant)

Case II - At high pressure:

When pressure exceeds the saturated pressure, xmbecomes independent of P values.

xmα P°
xm= k P°

Case III - At intermediate pressure:

At intermediate pressure,xm depends on P raised to the powers between 0 and 1. This relationship is known as the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. 

xmα P1n
xm=kP1n                       n >1
Now, taking log:
logxm=log k+1n log P

On plotting the graph between log xmand log P, a straight line is obtained with the slope equal to 1n