Question

(a) What is the difference between absorption and adsorption?

(b) How is an inclusion different from an occlusion?

Short answer

a) Absorption is a chemical process in which one substance dissolves in the bulk of the other substance.

For example when we spill water , we use a towel to wipe it. The towel absorbs the water.

Adsorption is a process in which particles of a substance gets attached to the surface of another substance.

For example black charcoal adsorbs impurities on its surface.

b) Impurities get trapped inside crystal lattice. The impurities are classified into inclusions and occlusions.

• Inclusions- When the impurities occupy the lattice sites of ions of comparable sizes and charges randomly, then they are known as Inclusions.
• Occlusions- When cluster of impurities are trapped inside a crystal structure, they are known as occlusions.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Define Absorption and adsorption

Absorption is the process in which a substance is dissolved in the bulk of another substance.

Adsorption is the process in which particles from a substance adhere to a surface of the adsorbent.

Difference between absorption and adsorption

The main difference between adsorption and absorption is that absorption takes place in the bulk of a substance while adsorption takes place only at the surface.

Step 3: Define Inclusion and occlusion

Inclusions- When the impurities occupy the lattice sites of ions of comparable sizes and charges randomly, then they are known as Inclusions.

Occlusions- When cluster of impurities are trapped inside a crystal structure, they are known as occlusions.

Step 4: Difference between inclusion and occlusion

Inclusion occupies random lattice sites substituting the ions of comparable sizes and charges whereas occlusions are cluster of impurities trapped inside a crystal structure.