Chemisorption and physisorption differ primarily in the nature of the interaction between the adsorbate and the adsorbent. In chemisorption, the interaction is strong, involving the formation of covalent or ionic bonds, whereas in physisorption, the interaction is weak and primarily driven by van der Waals forces. Chemisorption typically involves higher energy changes and is often irreversible, while physisorption is generally reversible.
