吸附 (xī fù) — adsorption (chemistry)

Definition

A chemistry term for the process where molecules or particles stick to the surface of a solid or liquid (rather than being absorbed into it). It's the basis for processes like activated-carbon filtration and catalysis.

noun
adsorption (chemistry)

Examples

  • 吸附。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào duì shuǐ qì yǒu hěn qiáng de xī fù zuò yòng.
    This material has a strong adsorption effect on water vapor.
  • 吸附。
    xī fù Shì biǎo miàn wù lǐ huà xué zhōng de zhòng yào guò chéng.
    Adsorption is an important process in surface physical chemistry.
  • 吸附。
    Huó xìng tàn de xī fù néng lì qǔ jué yú tā de kǒng xì jié gòu.
    The adsorption capacity of activated carbon depends on its pore structure.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

吸xīabsorb
附fùadhere

吸 contributes absorb and 附 contributes adhere, together naming adsorption.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí吸xī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

吸 pairs 口 (mouth) with 及, which gives the sound and relates to grabbing, so the shape suggests grabbing through the mouth.

Open 吸 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
付
付fù附fù
Same sound today

附 pairs 阝, written in full as 阜, with 付 as the sound part.

Open 附 →

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