2 syllables: sor, ption. Stress on sor.
SAWRP-shuhn
/ˈsɔːrpʃən/
sorption is pronounced SAWRP-shuhn (/ˈsɔːrpʃən/). It has two syllables (sor-ption), with the stress on "sor". Sorption is the process by which a substance is taken up by another substance through adhesion or absorption, encompassing both adsorption and absorption mechanisms. In science contexts, it refers to the overall uptake of molecules onto surfaces (adsorption) or into a material (absorption). It is a term frequently used in chemistry, environmental science, and material science to describe how substances are retained by a medium.
Sorption is the process by which a substance is taken up by another substance through adhesion or absorption, encompassing both adsorption and absorption mechanisms. In science contexts, it refers to the overall uptake of molecules onto surfaces (adsorption) or into a material (absorption). It is a term frequently used in chemistry, environmental science, and material science to describe how substances are retained by a medium.
"The sorption of pesticides onto soil reduces their mobility."
"Air purification relies on the sorption of volatile organic compounds onto activated carbon."
"Sorption is a key step in evaluating contaminant fate in groundwater models."
Sorption is pronounced SORP-shuhn, with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈsɔːr(p)ʃən/ or /ˈsɔːrpʃən/, UK /ˈsɔːpʃən/, AU /ˈsɔːpʃən/. Break it as sorp-tion: the first syllable rhymes with 'sore' and 'port'; the second is a light schwa + n. Tip: don’t insert an extra vowel between r and p; keep it compact: /ˈsɔːr p ɒ̃/ in some fast speech, but prefer /ˈsɔːrpʃən/ with a clear /ʃ/ transition.
Common mistakes include inserting an unnecessary vowel between the r and p (sor-uh-ption) and mispronouncing the /ɔː/ as /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. Another frequent error is pronouncing /ʃ/ as /s/ or avoiding the /r/ sound in non-rhotic accents. Correction: keep the sequence /ˈsɔːr/ followed immediately by /ʃən/; practice with word pairings sorb + tion to reinforce the transition: sorb + tion ► /ˈsɔːrpʃən/.
In US and UK, the first syllable centers on /ɔː/ or /ɔr/ with rhotic or non-rhotic tendencies: US typically /ˈsɔːrpʃən/ (rhotic), UK often /ˈsɔːpʃən/ (less rhotic in some speakers), and AU follows US-like rhotic patterns but with Australian vowel qualities that may shift /ɔː/ toward /ɒː/. The /r/ may be more pronounced in US; Australians often merge the /ɒ/ and /ɔː/ colors and preserve /ʃ/ as in /ʃən/. Overall, the stress remains on the first syllable across accents.
The difficulty lies in the rapid consonant cluster between /r/ and /ʃ/: the sequence /rʃ/ is less common in many dialects and can cause a subtle blend or insertion of a vowel. Additionally, the long /ɔː/ vowel in stressed syllable can be mispronounced as /ɒ/ or /ɑ/. Practice joining /r/ and /ʃ/ tightly to avoid a break, and elongate the first vowel slightly to maintain steady rhythm.
Yes—sorption outwardly looks like /ˈsɔːrpʃən/; the key is the /r/ to /ʃ/ transition. Some speakers glide from /r/ into /ʃ/ too soon or too late, producing /ˈsɔrpəʃən/ or /ˈsɔːʃən/. Keep the /r/ as a light tapping or retroflex, then promptly move into /ʃ/ for a clean /ʃən/ ending. Listen for a tight mouth closure before /ʃ/ and compact alveolar timing.
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Sorption derives from Latin sorbere, meaning to suck up or swallow, plus the suffix -tion indicating a process or action. The root sorb- appears in chemistry in words like sorbent and sorb, reflecting the idea of absorption or adsorption. The term began to appear in the scientific literature in the 20th century as scientists formalized the study of how substances interact with surfaces and matrices. Early uses framed sorption as a general category encompassing both adsorption (surface binding) and absorption (bulk uptake). Over time, the conceptual boundary between adsorption and absorption led to the umbrella term sorption, now standard in environmental engineering, chemistry, and material science. First known uses emerge in technical reports and journals addressing contaminant transport, soil science, and porous materials, where researchers needed a concise way to describe the combined phenomena of retaining substances by surfaces and within pores. Modern usage often specifies sorption mechanisms with qualifiers such as adsorption, absorption, or chemisorption, and researchers frequently measure sorption isotherms to quantify capacity and affinity of media for target compounds.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "sorption" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "sorption"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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