Deposition (chemistry)

In chemistry, deposition is the settling of particles (atoms or molecules) or sediment from a solution, suspension mixture or vapor onto a pre-existing surface. Deposition generally results in growth of new phase and is of fundamental importance in a large number of scientific disciplines and practical applications, the most obvious ones being in material science, geology, meteorology and chemical engineering.

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The term is also widely used in earth science to describe the same process in a geological sense. Deposition of particles is an aggradational process — one that builds a landform — as opposed to a degradational process that erodes or reduces the size of a landform. For example, a river mouth delta is formed by deposition of sediment carried by the stream as the river current diminishes upon encountering the sea.

See also

• Deposition (meteorology)
• Thin film deposition
• Fouling