<p>Adsorption is adhesion of thin film of liquid or gas on solid substance and the host solid substance does not form chemical bond with deposited material. Uptake is entering of material into substance, end product of which is a solution. Uptake generally happens in liquid host substances but it is also possible for solid host substance to uptake the gas or liquid. </p>

<p>In context of aerosols, the term adsorption is used when solid aerosol particles like dust, soot, ice, etc. are interacting with gases. The term uptake is used when liquid aerosol particle are interacting with gases. </p>

<p>Reference
<a href="http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Adsorption" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Adsorption</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-14T06:59:21.277Z
2018-09-14T06:59:21.277Z
Harish
<p>In the area of atmospheric chemistry, I have learned that the heterogeneous oxidation of SO2 is one of the important pathways for sulfate formation. The reactions of SO2 oxidation in mineral, soot particles have been confirmed. </p>

<p>The <strong>adsorption or uptake</strong> of SO2 on the particle surface" is the initial process of the transformation. I have heard that adsorption is the surface-based process of gases or ions and create a film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adsorption" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wiki reference</a>.   </p>

<p>What's the difference between the adsorption and uptake processes?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-27T08:06:04.157Z
In the context of organisms/biology, the difference would be clear (adsorption: sticks to the surface of a cell; uptake: enters the cell). Transfered to atmospheric particles it could mean:: Adsorption is the process, which describes that gaseous substances _go_ to the particles surface. Uptake also includes possible reactions of the previously gaseous substance at/in the particle. However, from my personal feeling, _adsorption_ is a subprocess of _uptake_ (thus, they are not distinct). But that is my personal feeling.
daniel.heydebreck
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-27T08:26:32.400Z
Thanks for your reply. These two terms were frequently used in the transformation into particles, and I have not found any statements to clearly distinguish.
Han Zhengzu
<atmosphere><atmospheric-chemistry>
What's the difference between uptake and adsorption of gas into aerosols
Han Zhengzu
# What's the difference between uptake and adsorption of gas into aerosols

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-03-26)

In the area of atmospheric chemistry, I have learned that the heterogeneous oxidation of SO2 is one of the important pathways for sulfate formation. The reactions of SO2 oxidation in mineral, soot particles have been confirmed.

The **adsorption or uptake** of SO2 on the particle surface" is the initial process of the transformation. I have heard that adsorption is the surface-based process of gases or ions and create a film [wiki reference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adsorption).

What's the difference between the adsorption and uptake processes?

**Tags:** atmosphere, atmospheric-chemistry

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In the context of organisms/biology, the difference would be clear (adsorption: sticks to the surface of a cell; uptake: enters the cell). Transfered to atmospheric particles it could mean:: Adsorption is the process, which describes that gaseous substances _go_ to the particles surface. Uptake also includes possible reactions of the previously gaseous substance at/in the particle. However, from my personal feeling, _adsorption_ is a subprocess of _uptake_ (thus, they are not distinct). But that is my personal feeling.  
> **username_0**: Thanks for your reply. These two terms were frequently used in the transformation into particles, and I have not found any statements to clearly distinguish.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-09-14. Score: 3

Adsorption is adhesion of thin film of liquid or gas on solid substance and the host solid substance does not form chemical bond with deposited material. Uptake is entering of material into substance, end product of which is a solution. Uptake generally happens in liquid host substances but it is also possible for solid host substance to uptake the gas or liquid.

In context of aerosols, the term adsorption is used when solid aerosol particles like dust, soot, ice, etc. are interacting with gases. The term uptake is used when liquid aerosol particle are interacting with gases.

Reference
<http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Adsorption>


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