How Does Difference between Absorption and Adsorption Work?

Think of absorption as drinking a liquid, while adsorption is like sticking stickers to a wall.

Imagine you have a dry kitchen sponge and a roll of sticky tape. If you drop the sponge into a bowl of water, the water soaks right into the sponge’s holes. The water goes inside. That is absorption. It is like eating a snack; the food goes inside your tummy.

Now look at the sticky tape. If you press a piece of lint onto the tape, the lint stays on the surface. It does not go inside the tape. It just sticks to the outside. That is adsorption. It is like putting a magnet on the fridge. The magnet does not melt into the fridge door; it just holds on the surface.

Remember: Absorption is like filling a cup with juice. Adsorption is like dew drops sitting on a spiderweb.

In short, if the stuff goes in, it is absorption. If it sticks on, it is adsorption. Simple, right?