What is the result of adsorbing a substance onto a surface?

When a substance is adsorbed onto a surface, it typically involves the adhesion of molecules from a liquid or gas phase onto a solid surface. This process is significant in various applications, particularly in the field of turf and ornamental weed management. The correct answer highlights that the result of adsorption often leads to the retention of the chemical.

In this context, when herbicides or other chemicals are adsorbed onto soil particles or plant surfaces, they become less mobile and more stable, which can enhance their effectiveness over time by preventing their rapid leaching or degradation. This retention allows the chemical to remain in contact with target weeds for a longer duration, thereby increasing its efficacy.

Understanding this process is crucial for managing herbicide applications effectively, as well as for environmental protection, since excessive movement of chemicals could lead to pollution of water sources. The other options, while they highlight different aspects of chemical behavior, do not directly relate to the fundamental result of adsorption, which is the retention of the adsorbed material on the surface.