To bind or adhere molecules to a surface through chemical bonding rather than just physical attraction.
From chemi- (chemistry) + sorb (from sorption, the process of adhering to a surface). The term emerged in mid-20th century physical chemistry to distinguish chemical from physical bonding.
Chemisorption is why catalytic converters in cars work—pollutant molecules chemically bond to the catalyst surface, getting converted to harmless gases; it's one of the most important chemical technologies keeping cities breathable!
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