Diffusion of solids

in liquids
Chemistry Project

Chemistry Project
V .Gokul
Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Index

1. Introduction

2. Objective

3. Experiment 1

4. Experiment 2

5. Experiment 3

6. Result

7. Bibliography

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Introduction
Diffusion:
Diffusion is the movement of molecules from a region of high concentration to
one of low concentration. If you have ever opened a
bottle of cologne or perfume, you have witnessed
diffusion. Molecules of the scent escape from the
container, where they are present in very high
concentration. They spread outward in every
direction to regions where they are in low
concentration. Your nose is able to detect the smell of the cologne or perfume
even if you are quite a distance from the bottle that has been opened.

Diffusion occurs in all states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas

Rate of Diffusion:

The force of diffusion of molecules is their kinetic energy (i.e, chemical

potential). The phenomenon of diffusion is, therefore, considered to be due to
the differences in the chemical potential or the free energy of the components of
a system. All the factors that alter the chemical potential of molecules will
ultimately influence the rate of diffusion.

Temperature:
The rate of diffusion of a solute in a solvent is affected by
the temperature of a solvent because the greater the temperature of the
solvent, the greater the amount of energy is in the molecules of the
solvent, thus resulting in an increased rate of diffusion for substances
with a higher temperature.

The rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to size of particle.

Density:
Concentration of the diffusing particles and the density of the
liquid or gas through which the diffusion occurs markedly influences the
rate of diffusion. Density of the diffusing gas itself determines the rate of

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

diffusion. Lighter the gas, greater will be the rate of its diffusion.
According to the law of diffusion of gases, the rate of diffusion is
inversely proportional to the square root of the density of gas.

The surface area is directly proportional to rate of diffusion.

Kind of diffusion
1. Diffusion in Gases:

Diffusion in gases is very fast. This is because the particles in gases

move very quickly in all directions.

The rate of diffusion of a gas, however, depends on its density. Light

gases diffuse faster than heavy gases.

Example: When we light an

incense stick (agarbatti) in a
corner of our room, its fragrance
spreads in the whole room very
quickly due to the diffusion of its
smoke into the air.

2. Diffusion in liquids:

Diffusion in liquids is slower than that in gases. This is because the

particles in liquids move slowly as compared to the particles in gases.

Example: The spreading of

purple colour of potassium
permanganate into water, on
its own, is due to the diffusion
of potassium permanganate
particles into water.

Note: The gases like carbon

dioxide and oxygen are
essential for the survival of aquatic plants and animals. The carbon
dioxide and oxygen gas present in air diffuse into water, and dissolve

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

in it. The aquatic plants use the dissolved carbon dioxide for
preparing food by photosynthesis and aquatic animals use the
dissolved oxygen of water for breathing. This is an example of
diffusion of gases into a liquid.

3. Diffusion in solids:

Diffusion can also takes place in solids.

Diffusion in solids is very, very slow process.

Example: If we write something on a blackboard

and leave it uncleaned for a considerable period
of time, we will find that it becomes quite
difficult to clean the blackboard afterwards. This
is due to the fact that some of the particles of
chalk have diffused into the surface of blackboard

Diffusion through membrane

Diffusion of molecules or ions through a membrane are of two types:
1.Simple diffusion:
Diffusing molecules or ions do not combine with the
constituents of the membrane.

2. Facilitated diffusion:
Diffusing molecules move through the membrane with the
help of transport protein or carrier proteins.

Permeability and Membranes:

Permeability is the degree of diffusion of gases, liquids and dissolved
substances through a membrane. The ability of a substance to pass through
a membrane is also called as permeability A membrane may be freely
permeable for one substance, moderately permeable for the second one
and may be completely impermeable for the third one.

On this basis following types of membranes have been recognized:

1. Freely permeable membrane:
This type of membrane allows free movement (passage) of
various substance, such as water, other solvents, various ions and
dissolved solutes, e x Cell wall.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

2. Impermeable membrane:
This type of membrane does not allow any kind of movement
through it., e.g., cultinized cell wall.

3. Semi-permeable membrane:
This type of membrane allows only solvent particles to pass
through it. It does not allow the movement of solute particles, e.g.,
egg membrane, animal bladder, parchment membrane. These can be
prepared artificially also.

4. Selectively permeable membrane or differentially permeable

membrane:
These membranes allow only some selected molecules (of
solute and solvent) to pass through it. Most of the biological
membranes, such as cell membrane, tonoplast (vacuolar membrane)
and the membrane surrounding the sub-cellular organelles are
selectively permeable These membranes give a differential treatment
to different kinds of molecules. Some molecules move very rapidly,
some move very slowly, while rest other do not move at all. A
nonliving selectively permeable membrane is cellophane.

Osmosis:

Osmosis is the result of diffusion across a semipermeable membrane. If two

solutions of different concentration are separated by a semipermeable
membrane, then the solvent will
tend to diffuse across the
membrane from the less
concentrated to the more
concentrated solution. This process
is called osmosis. At the cellular
level, both processes are types
of passive transport.

Semipermeable membranes are

very thin layers of material that allow small molecules, like oxygen, water,
carbon dioxide, ammonia, glucose, amino-acids, etc., to pass through.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

However, they do not allow larger molecules, like sucrose, protein, etc., to
pass through.

Diffusion Osmosis

Any type of substance moves from area
of highest energy or concentration to
region of lowest energy or
concentration.
Diffusion can occur in any medium,
whether it is liquid, solid, or gas.
Diffusion does not require a
semipermeable membrane.
Concentration of the diffusion
substance equalizes to fill the available
space.
Hydrostatic pressure and turgor
pressure to not normally apply to
diffusion.
Does not depend on solute potential,
pressure potential, or water potential.
Diffusion mainly depends on the
presence of other particles.
Diffusion is a passive process.
The movement in diffusion is to
equalize concentration (energy)
throughout the system.
Only water or another solvent moves from
a region of high energy or concentration
to a region of lower energy or
concentration.
Osmosis only occurs in a liquid medium.
Osmosis requires a semipermeable
membrane.
Concentration of solvent does not become
equal on both sides of the membrane.
Hydrostatic pressure and turgor pressure
oppose osmosis.
Depends on solute potential.
Osmosis mainly depends on the number
of solute particles dissolved in the solvent.
Osmosis is also a passive process.
The movement in osmosis seeks to
equalize solvent concentration (although it
does not achieve this).

Importance of Diffusion

The exchange of gases through stomata (for example, CO2 intake and
O2 output during photosynthesis, and CO2 output and O2 intake during
respiration takes place by the principal of independent diffusion).

Transpiration involves the process of diffusion.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Diffusion is an effective means of transport of substances helps in the

translocation of food material.

Diffusion keeps the cell walls of the internal plant tissues moist.

It is a means of spreading of ions and other substances throughout the

protoplast.

Gaseous exchange during the process of respiration and photosynthesis

takes place with the help of diffusion.

During passive salt uptake the ions are absorbed by the process of
diffusion.

It also helps in translocation of food materials.

Gas exchange in submerged hydrophytes takes place by general body

surface (epidermis) through diffusion.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Objective
To demonstrate that rate of diffusion depends upon the following
factors:

Temperature: As temperature increases, the kinetic energy

of the particles increases. Thus, the speed of particles also
increases, which in turn increases the rate of diffusion.

Size of the particle: As the size of particle increases, rate

of
diffusion decreases. This is because the particles become less
mobile in the solvent.

Mass of the particle: As the mass of the particle increases,

the rate of diffusion decreases; as the particle becomes less
mobile.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Experiment 1

To study diffusion when copper sulphate is brought in contact with

water (liquid)

Requirements:

Copper sulphate crystals, 100ml beaker.

Procedure:
Take about 2g of copper sulphate crystals in 100ml beaker.

Add about 50ml of water and allow it to stand for few

minutes.

Note the development of blue colour in water.

Allow to stand further till it is observed that all copper

sulphate disappears.

Note the blue colour change in water.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Conclusion:
When solids such as copper sulphate, potassium permanganate are
brought in contact with liquids such as water, intermixing of
substances, i.e. diffusion takes place.

Experiment 2

To study the effect of temperature on the rate of diffusion of solids

in liquids.

Requirements:
Copper sulphate(CuSO4) crystals, three 100 ml beakers, watch
glass, wire gauge, burner, tripod stand, thermometer, stop watch.

Procedure:
Take five gram of copper sulphate each in three beakers.

Pour 100 mL of distilled water slowly in one of the beakers.

Cover this beaker with a watch glass.

Pour 100 mL of cold water in a second beaker slowly.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Place a third beaker containing 100 ml of water in a tripod

stand for heating

Observe the diffusion process which begins in all the beakers.

Record the time taken by the copper sulphate particles in all

the 3 cases

Observations:

S. Temperature of Time taken to diffuse(in min.)

No water(C)
1 100 12 minutes
2 25 18 minutes
3 -2 32 minutes

Conclusion
The rate of diffusion of copper sulphate in water is in the order as
given below:
Beaker 3 > Beaker 2 > Beaker 1
Thus, the rate of diffusion varies directly with temperature.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Experiment 3

To study the effect of size of particles on the rate of diffusion of solids

in liquids.

Requirements:

100 mL beakers, copper sulphate (CuSO4) crystals of different

sizes, stop watch.

Procedure:
Add 50 mL of water to each of the three cylinders.

Take 1 gram each of big size, medium and small sizes and
add them separately in 3 beakers

Allow to them to dissolve for some time.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Record the time taken for each of them to dissolve

completely.

Observations:

S.No Crystal size Time taken to diffuse

1 Big size 28 minutes
2 Medium 14 minutes
3 Small 8 minutes

Conclusion

The rate of diffusion of copper sulphate in water is in the order as

given below:
Beaker 3 > Beaker 2 > Beaker 1
Thus, smaller particles undergo diffusion more quickly than bigger
particles.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Result

When solids such as copper sulphate are brought in contact with

liquids such as water, intermingling of substances, i.e.,diffusion
takes place.

The rate of diffusion varies directly with temperature.

Small particles undergo diffusion more quickly than bigger

particles.

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Chemistry Project Study of diffusion of solids in Liquids

Bibliography
Chemistry (Part I) Textbook for Class XII; National Council
of Educational Research and Training
Concepts of Physics 2 by H C Verma; Bharti Bhawan
(Publishers & Distributors)
Wikipedia
Google Images

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