Ions which possess a chemical affinity for the surface in addition to the
Coulomb interaction, where chemical is a collective adjective, embracing all interactions
other than purely Coulombic. Examples are van der Waals or hydrophobic bonding, pi-electron
exchange and complex formation. Specifically adsorbing ions can adsorb on an initially
uncharged surface and hence provide it with a charge. The term specifically adsorbed
applies to the sorption of all other ions having an affinity to the surface in addition
to the purely Coulombic contribution.
Source:
PAC, 1991, 63, 895
(Nomenclature, symbols, definitions and measurements for electrified interfaces in
aqueous dispersions of solids (Recommendations 1991))
on page 899
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
