(Last Revision: January 31, 1997)
The adsorption of acetic acid on charcoal is studied using both the Freundlich isotherm and the Langmuir isotherm.
Sime, Rodney J., "Physical Chemistry - Methods, Techniques and Experiments," Saunders Pub., Philadelphia, PA, 1990. p. 528-532.
Two common isotherms for the behavior of material adsorbed on a surface are the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The Freundlich isotherm is based on purely empirical observations, while the Langmuir isotherm is derived from a set of postulates, which includes the assumption of a monlayer adsorption and other theorectical considerations. In this experiment the data are annalyzed and the results discussed in terms of these two isotherms.
Erlenmeyer flasks, pipets, filter paper, buret.
Activated charcoal (from blood), 0.4 M acetic acid, 0.1 M NaOH and phenolphthalein indicator.
Follow the procedure described by Sime.
The calculations are those described by Sime.