Project Chem

S.No.
Topic
1. Aim of the Project
2. Apparatus Required
3. Introduction
4. Theory of the Project
5. Reaction
6. Procedure
7. Observations
Plotting the Adsorption
8. Isotherm
9. Result
10. Bibliography
To determine the adsorption isotherm of acetic
acid using activated charcoal.
Acetic acid solution

(different concentrations)
Activated charcoal
Burette
Pipette
Beakers
Conical flask
Distilled water
Adsorption is a surface phenomenon where
molecules of a substance accumulate on the
surface of a solid or liquid. The extent of
adsorption is influenced by factors such as
temperature, concentration, and nature of the
adsorbate and adsorbent. In this experiment,
acetic acid serves as the adsorbate, and
activated charcoal as the adsorbent.
Understanding adsorption through isotherms
helps in applications ranging from catalysis to
environmental cleanup.
The adsorption of acetic acid onto activated
charcoal can be studied using adsorption
isotherms, such as the Freundlich and Langmuir
isotherms. This experiment involves calculating
the amount of acetic acid adsorbed per gram of
charcoal at varying concentrations, followed by
plotting the isotherm graph.
• Freundlich Isotherm Equation:
x/m = kP1/n
where x/m is the amount adsorbed per gram of
adsorbent, P is the concentration, and k and 1/n
are constants.
No chemical reaction occurs in this physical

adsorption process. The interaction between
acetic acid molecules and activated charcoal is
due to physical forces, mainly van der Waals
forces.
1. Prepare acetic acid solutions of various
known concentrations.
2. Add a fixed amount of activated charcoal to
each solution and shake well.
3. Allow the mixture to reach equilibrium.
4. After equilibrium is established, filter the
solution to remove charcoal.
5. Measure the final concentration of acetic
acid in each solution.
6. Calculate the amount of acetic acid
adsorbed by determining the concentration
difference before and after adsorption.
7. Plot the adsorption isotherm using the data
obtained.
• Example Observations:
Initial Final Volume of Mass of Amount

S. Concentrat Concentrat Solution Charcoal Adsorbed
No. ion (mol/L) ion (mol/L) (mL) (g) (mol/g)
(Cinitial) (Cfinal) (V) (m) (x/m)
1. 0.1 0.08 50 0.5 0.002
2. 0.2 0.15 50 0.5 0.005
3. 0.3 0.22 50 0.5 0.008
4. 0.4 0.28 50 0.5 0.012
5. 0.5 0.35 50 0.5 0.015
• Calculations:
1. First Observation:
i. Initial concentration: Cinitial = 0.1 mol/L

ii. Final concentration: Cfinal = 0.08 mol/L
iii. Volume: V = 0.05 L
iv. Mass of charcoal: m = 0.5 g
v. Amount Adsorbed: x/m = (0.1 - 0.08) x
(0.05) / (0.5) = 0.002 mol/g
2. Second Observation:

iv. Mass of charcoal: m = 0.5 mol/g
v. Amount Adsorbed: x/m = (0.2 - 0.15) x (0.05)
/ (0.5) = 0.005 mol/g
3. Third Observation:

(0.05) / (0.5) = 0.008 mol/g
4. Fourth Observation:

(0.05) / (0.5) = 0.012 mol/g
5. Fifth Observation:

(0.05) / (0.5) = 0.015 mol/g
1. Adsorption Behavior:
• As the initial concentration of acetic acid

increases, the amount adsorbed per gram of
charcoal (x/m) also increases, but at a
decreasing rate. This suggests that the
adsorption may follow the Freundlich isotherm,
which typically applies to heterogeneous
surface adsorption with non-uniform
distribution of adsorption heat.
2. Freundlich Isotherm Verification:
• The Freundlich isotherm is represented by the

equation: x/m = kP1/n .
• By plotting log(x/m) against log(P), we should
obtain a straight line if the adsorption follows
the Freundlich isotherm. The slope of this line
provides the value of 1/n, and the intercept
gives the constant k.
Graph of Adsorption isotherm
3. Conclusion:
• The experimental data, with increasing but

gradually leveling values of x/m as
concentration increases, supports the
Freundlich adsorption isotherm.
• This implies that adsorption sites on the

activated charcoal are heterogeneous, and
the adsorptive forces vary across the surface.
• If further data were plotted and analyzed, it

would validate this model quantitatively,
confirming that acetic acid adsorption on
activated charcoal follows the Freundlich
isotherm pattern.
The adsorption of acetic acid on activated
charcoal follows the Freundlich isotherm,
indicating a heterogeneous process with varying
adsorption capacity across concentrations. This
pattern suggests adsorption does not saturate as
in a Langmuir isotherm.
• NCERT Chemistry Textbook for 12
• Relevant websites (e.g., Wikipedia)
• Gemini

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S.No.

1. Aim of the Project

4. Theory of the Project

Acetic acid solution

• Freundlich Isotherm Equation:

No chemical reaction occurs in this physical

Initial Final Volume of Mass of Amount

1. 0.1 0.08 50 0.5 0.002

2. 0.2 0.15 50 0.5 0.005

3. 0.3 0.22 50 0.5 0.008

4. 0.4 0.28 50 0.5 0.012

5. 0.5 0.35 50 0.5 0.015

i. Initial concentration: Cinitial = 0.1 mol/L

i. Initial concentration: Cinitial = 0.2 mol/L

i. Initial concentration: Cinitial = 0.3 mol/L

i. Initial concentration: Cinitial = 0.4 mol/L

i. Initial concentration: Cinitial = 0.5 mol/L

• As the initial concentration of acetic acid

2. Freundlich Isotherm Verification:

• The Freundlich isotherm is represented by the

• The experimental data, with increasing but

• This implies that adsorption sites on the

• If further data were plotted and analyzed, it

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