NOTE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY VIEWING THIS PAPER

I have uploaded this scientific paper for the purpose of helping out college students who
are also making this same paper. All should be aware that this is not my final output since my
final output is a revised one. Please do not plagiarize my work. Take this paper as your guide.

-- Ovric Estioko. BS Biology UPLB Batch 2012

 The Effect of Molecular Weight of Selected
Pure Substances on its Rate of Diffusion1

Ovric P. Estioko
Group 1 Sec. E 8L

August 10, 2012

_____________________
1
A scientific paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in General Biology
I laboratory under Ms. Fides Marie R. Dela Cruz, 1st sem., 2012-2013.
 ABSTRACT

The effect of molecular weight of pure substances on its rate of

diffusion was determined using a petri dish of agar-water gel with three wells.
One drop of the prepared solution of each pure substance (KMnO4, K2Cr2O7,
C16H18N3SCl) was carefully placed simultaneously into each well using a dropper
and was immediately covered. The diameter (mm) of the colored area of each
compound was measured and recorded for thirty minutes at a regular three-
minute interval. The partial rate and average rate of diffusion of the three
compounds were then computed. KMnO4, which has the lowest molecular
weight, diffused the farthest distance and had the highest average rate of
diffusion. On the other hand, C16H18N3SCl, which had the highest molecular
weight, diffused the shortest distance and had the lowest average rate of
diffusion. Thus, the higher the molecular weight of a substance, the slower the
rate of diffusion of a substance and vice versa.

INTRODUCTION

Molecules of any substance tend to move and spread out evenly into open space

randomly, a spontaneous process called diffusion. But, a population of molecules may diffuse in

a directional manner. In the absence of other forces, a substance will diffuse from where it is

more concentrated to where it is less concentrated. Any substance will diffuse down its

concentration gradient, the region along which the density of a chemical substance increases or

decreases (in this case, decreases). Each substance diffuses down its own concentration

gradient, unaffected by the concentration gradients of other substances (Reece, Urry, Cain,

Wasserman, Minorsky and Jackson, 2011).

The outcome of the tendency of diffusion can be observed by squeezing a drop of dye

into water. The dye molecules diffuse to the region where they are less concentrated, at the

same time, water molecules move to the region where they are less concentrated (Starr and

Taggart, 2004).
 Molecular weight of molecules is determined by the sum of the atomic weights of the

elements in the chemical formula for a molecule (Brown, LeMay Jr., Bursten, Murphy,

Woodward, 2012).

Compounds which have high molecular weight could diffuse slower than those with low

molecular weight as observed from an experiment involving hydrochloric acid (HCl) and

ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH). A white smoke ring was formed (NH4Cl) in the tube when gases

emitted by the two cotton balls moistened with HCl and NH4OH each, were left to diffuse in

both ends of a glass tube. The gas emitted by HCl and NH4OH were HCl(g) and NH3(g). The white

smoke ring was near the region of the tube ending where the cotton ball moistened with HCl

was placed. It was noted that the molecular weight of NH3(g) and HCl(g) was 17 g/mol and 36

g/mol respectively (Duka, Villa, Diaz, 2009). Thus, it is necessary to gain insight on the effect of

molecular weight of compounds on its rate of diffusion.

This study, conducted on August 10, 2012 at Wing C Room 113 of the Institute of

Biological Sciences in the University of the Philippines Los Baos, aimed to determine the effect

of molecular weight of pure substances on its rate of diffusion. The specific objectives were:

1. to describe the effect of molecular weight of pure substances on its distance traveled during

the diffusion process;

2. to describe the effect of molecular weight of pure substances on its partial and average rate

of diffusion; and

3. to explain a possible reason behind the observed of molecular weight on rate of diffusion of

pure substances
 MATERIALS AND METHODS

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and methylene blue

(C16H18N3SCl ) were the pure substances selected in determining the effect of molecular weight

on its rate of diffusion. These pure substances have different molecular weights and they differ

in color. KMnO4 is violet, K2Cr2O7 is yellow and C16H18N3SCl is blue. These colors made it easy to

determine the rate of diffusion of the pure substances.

A petri dish of agar-water gel with three wells was obtained as shown in figure 1. The

wells were labeled as KMnO4, K2Cr2O7 and methylene blue. One drop of the prepared solution of

each pure substance was carefully placed simultaneously into each well using a dropper for each

pure substance. Then, the petri dish was immediately covered. The three pure substances had

spread in the water-agar gel which created a colored area in each well. The diameter (mm) of

the colored area of each compound was measured using a 12-inch commercial ruler and

recorded at a regular three-minute interval starting from zero minute to thirty minutes.

The average rate of diffusion (mm/min) was calculated by getting the average value of

the computed partial rate of diffusion. The partial rate of diffusion (mm/min) of the substances

was computed by using the formula:

Partial rate (rp) = di - di-1

ti - ti-1

where: di = diameter of colored area at a given time

di-1 = diameter of colored area immediately before di

ti = time when di was measured

ti-1 = time immediately before ti

 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Table 1 showed the diameter (mm) of colored area of each pure substance for thirty

minutes at a regular three-minute interval. Results revealed that the diameter (mm) of the

colored area generally increased with time for all the three substances. For thirty minutes,

KMnO4, having the lowest molecular weight, diffused the farthest distance of 19 mm diameter.

This was followed by K2Cr207, which showed a 16 mm diameter. C16H18N3SCl, which had the

highest molecular weight, diffused the shortest distance of 11 mm diameter.

Molecules or ions of substances tend to move from a region of higher to lower

concentration in diffusion, which is the movement in response to a concentration gradient (Starr

and Taggart, 2004).

As shown in Table 2 and Figure 1.1, the average rate of diffusion (mm/min) for KMnO4,

K2Cr207 and C16H18N3SCl were 0.47, 0.37 and 0.20, respectively. KMnO4, which had the lowest

molecular weight (158 g/mol), displayed the highest average rate of diffusion among the three

pure substances. On the other hand, C16H18N3SCl, which had the highest molecular weight (320

g/mol), displayed the lowest average rate of diffusion.

Generally, smaller molecules flow down their concentration gradients faster than larger

ones do (Starr and Taggart, 2004). Grahams law of diffusion states that under the same

conditions and temperatures and pressures, rates of diffusion are inversely proportional to the

square roots of their molar masses (Chang, 2011).

As shown in Table 2 and Figure 1.2, results showed KMnO4 displayed the highest partial

rate of diffusion (1.67 mm/min) on the first three minutes among the three pure substances.

This was followed by K2Cr207 with 1.00 mm/min. The lowest partial rate of diffusion was

manifested by C16H18N3SCl (0.33 mm/min). After three minutes, the partial rate of diffusion for
 1.8

1.6

Partial Rate of Diffusion (mm/min) 1.4

1.2

1
potassium permanganate
0.8
potassium dichromate
0.6 methylene blue
0.4

0.2

0
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
Time (minutes)

Figure 2.1 A bar graph showing the partial rate of diffusion of KMnO4, K2Cr2O7 and C16H18N3SCl
for 30 minutes at a regular three-minute interval.

0.5
Average Rate of Diffusion

0.4
(mm/min)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
potassium permanganate potassium dichromate (294) methylene blue (320)
(158)
Molecular weight (g/mol)

Figure 2.2 A bar graph showing the comparison of the average rate of diffusion of KMnO 4,
K2Cr2O7 and C16H18N3SCl with its molecular weight.
KMnO4 generally decreased until it remained constant. On the other hand, K2Cr207 remained

constant up to the sixth minute and later on, generally decreased until it remained constant.

However, the C16H18N3SCl continued to increase up to the sixth minute and later on, generally

decreased until it remained constant as well.

These observed effects of molecular weight could be explained through a number of

possible mechanisms. A substance diffusing down a concentration gradient will soon lead to a

dynamic equilibrium. Dynamic equilibrium refers to a condition in which the parts of a system

are in continuous motion, but they move in opposing directions at equal rates so that the

system as a whole does not change (McCandless, Jr., 1998). According to Howley, MacCraith,

ODwyer, Kirwan and McLoughlin (2003), there were factors that affected the diffusion of a

certain organic compound, chlorinated hydrocarbon, as shown by experiments. It includes the

combination of polarity and steric/molecular size effects of the compound and the matrix

polarity of the medium. Diffusion rates are influenced by the steepness of the concentration

gradients, temperature, and molecular size, as well as by gradients in electrical charge and

pressure that may occur between two regions (Starr and Taggart, 2004). Thus, the higher the

molecular weight of a pure substance, the lower its rate of diffusion and vice versa.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The effect of molecular weight of pure substances on its rate of diffusion was

determined. KMnO4, K2Cr207 and C16H18N3SCl were the pure substance chosen for the study

because they differ in molecular weight and color.

One drop of the prepared solution of each compound was carefully placed

simultaneously into each well of the agar-water gel using a dropper and was immediately
covered. For 30 minutes at a regular three-minute interval, the diameter (mm) of the colored

area of each pure substance was measured and recorded.

The partial rate of diffusion of each pure substance was calculated. The average rate of

diffusion of each pure substance was also computed by getting the average of the partial rate of

diffusion of each pure substance.

Results showed that KMnO4 diffused the greatest distance with a diameter of 19 mm,

followed by K2Cr2O7 with a diameter of 16 mm. C16H18N3SCl diffused the shortest distance with a

diameter of 16 mm. The average rate of diffusion of KMnO4, K2Cr2O7, and C16H18N3SCl is 0.47,

0.37 and 0.20, respectively. These results revealed that KMnO4, having the lowest molecular

weight, had the highest rate of diffusion whereas C16H18N3SCl, having the highest molecular

weight, had the lowest rate of diffusion. Moreover, results showed that KMnO4 had the highest

partial rate of diffusion (1.67 mm/min) on the first three minutes. This was followed by K 2Cr2O7

(1.00 mm/min), while C16H18N3SCl had the lowest of partial rate of diffusion (0.33 mm/min).

Later on, the partial rate of diffusion for the three pure substances generally decreased until it

remained constant.

Therefore, the higher the molecular weight of a substance, the slower the rate of

diffusion of a substance and vice versa. However, there are some other factors that influence

the rate of diffusion of a pure substance. Further experiments may be done on the effects of the

other properties of pure substances on its rate of diffusion, including the environment on which

it diffuses.
 LITERATURE CITED

Brown, T.L., H.E. Lemay Jr., B.E. Bursten, C.J. Murphy, P.M. Woodward. 2012. Chemistry: The
Central Science. 12th ed. USA: Pearson Prentice Hall. p. 86.

Chang, R., J. Overby. 2011. General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts. 6th ed. New York: The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. p. 162.

Duka, I.A., M.Q. Diaz, N.O. Villa. 2009. Biology I Laboratory Manual: An Investigative Approach.
9th ed. Laguna: Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences
University of the Philippines Los Baos. pp. 35-36

Howley R., B.D MacCraith, K. ODwyer, P. Kirwan, P. McLoughlin. 2003. A Study of the factors
affecting the diffusion of chlorinated hydrocarbons into polyisobutylene and
polyethylene-co-propylene for evanescent wave sensing. Vibrational Spectroscopy.
Volume 31, Issue 2: 271-278

McCandless Jr., J.R. 1997. Exploratory Activity: Dynamic Equilibrium.

<http://biology.arizona.edu/sciconn/lessons/mccandless/equilib.html>. Accessed
August 12, 2012.

Reece, J.B., L.A. Urry, M.L. Cain, S.A. Wasserman, P.V. Minorsky, and R.B. Jackson. 2011.
Campbell Biology. 9th ed. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. p. 132

Starr, C., R. Taggart. 2004. Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life. 10th ed. Singapore: Thomson
Brooks/Cole. pp. 87, 94.