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Glite Dictionary
adsorptive

adsorptive

9.5
Able to attract and hold other substances on its surface, like a sponge holds water
  • adjective
  • /ædˈsɔːrptɪv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : adsorbente
  • The adsorptive properties of the sponge help it hold onto dirt and grime while cleaning surfaces.

Examples

  • Scientists are studying adsorptive materials that can help remove contaminants from drinking water.

  • The amorphous Fe and manganese (Mn) oxide minerals provide an adsorptive surface to limit the phytoavailability of toxic heavy metals.

    Academic text (1997)

  • This fact can be explained by the fact that in the process of biosorption, weak interaction forces (Van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding) are involved, and an increase in temperature results in the breakdown of adsorptive forces, which results in a decrease in dye removal at higher temperatures (Chatterjee et al., 2009).

    Academic text (2015)

  • The special coating gave the material an adsorptive quality that enhanced its ability to filter pollutants from the air.

Synonyms

adsorbent
vsadsorptive
  • Specialized
8.9

Able to hold other substances on its surface

is the adjectival form meaning the same tendency to attract and hold
surface-assimilative
vsadsorptive
  • Specialized
9.9

Causes liquids or tiny bits to stick to a surface

focuses specifically on adsorption as attraction and holding on the surface

Antonyms

nonadsorptive
  • Specialized
9.9

Not able to make things stick to a surface

How Chemisorptive

chemisorptive
  • Specialized
9.9
adsorptive
  • Specialized
9.5

Surface Forms

adsorptive positive

Morphology

adsorptive = adsorb (transparent) = adsorb + ive

Formed by a straightforward adjective derivation from the verb 'adsorb' with the adjective-forming suffix '-ive', meaning 'having the property of adsorbing'.

Etymology

The word adsorptive comes from the parts ad- 'to' and sorb 'to suck up', and is like the familiar word absorb. Imagine tiny particles being 'sucked' onto a surface and held there, and that's why an adsorptive material attracts and holds substances on its surface.