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Madison Adams

Mrs.Stevens

Life Science

31 January 2018

Which Type of Paper Allows for the Greatest Diffusion?

When I was little my parents and I would go to diners and I would see servers using towels to

clean up the spilled water or liquids with just one towel. I would always watch carefully to see

what happens but couldn’t see anything with my eyes. I was amazed and thought that what if

other towel like papers can do the same thing. ​ If I test diffusion of dye with computer paper,

paper towels, and toilet paper, then paper towels will diffuse the most dye.

What Is Diffusion?

According to Sharon Omondi, Diffusion is the process where molecules go from a higher

concentration to a lower concentration(Omondi).The matter continues to move until it is level or

evened out during diffusion.Diffusion mostly occurs in liquids. Depending on the pattern of the

movement, of gases and liquids they depend on the concentration. A definition and origin of

diffusion is ‘Diffundere’ a latin word, which means : to spread out. Diffusion has effects on other

subjects like chemistry.

What Is Absorption? And Why Does Paper Absorb Water?

Absorption is a phenomenon that happens with atoms and,molecules. Absorption can be

physical or chemical.The solution that are in the substance go into a bulk phase. It’s mixed into
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or getting absorbed. It then gets absorbed overall in another substance. It also includes liquids,

solids, and gases. When paper is made there are paper fibers.The paper fibers overlap each other

making tubes leading in all direction though the paper.The water molecules are attracted to the

chemical molecules in the fiber.The name of the force between unlike molecules is

:Adhesion.The water molecules stuck with the fiber molecules.

What Factors Affect Absorbency Of A Liquid?

The Factors that affect a good quality paper towel is one that can obtain a lot of liquid or

in this case water..A good sized sheet and a nice depth of the liquid type are some factors that

will affect absorbency.Also a immersion time to have an accurate calculation..And temperature

to make sure it does not affect the experiment.As well as Humidity to keep it well and that the

paper does not break.And the type of paper/paper towel.

What Factors Affect Diffusion?

Some factor that will affect diffusion is temperature.Another would be density.As well

as medium of diffusion.the concentration gradient is also a factor .The bigger the concentration
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gradient the bigger the diffusion.Collision between the medium molecules the more less of the

diffusion rate.

What Is Paperweight? What Is the Weight Of Each Type?

Paper weight is measure on how many papers there are and weight. The paper can be up to 500

sheets per pound.Paper bond is of set weight so there is not an exact number .Books can weigh

up to 30 lb(also the bible is very thin around 115lb).The basic size of books paper usually are up

to 25 x 38 .Text size paper is up to 25 x 38.Text weighs up to 100lb

Cover size is up to 24 x 36.Can be as small as 60 lb to high up to 100lb

How do you accurately measure absorption?

The absorbency of a paper towel will hold as much liquid without leaving excess water or liquids

of other substances.With the type of paper towel/paper can help measure absorption.Or the brand

of paper/ paper towel.It’ll also matter where your experiment what type of environment it’s in.Be

consistent with experimenting.As well as be repetitive in measuring absorption.

I hypothesized that​ if I test diffusion of dye with computer paper, paper towels, and toilet paper,

then paper towels will diffuse the most dye​. I tested each of them in different colored water and

times them and got different results. For the computer paper I got 6 minutes and 57 seconds, for

the toilet paper I got 4 minutes and 10 seconds, for the paper towel I got 2 minutes and 40

seconds. Overall the paper towels we the most absorbent. If I test diffusion of dye with

computer paper, paper towels, and toilet paper, then paper towels will diffuse the most dye.
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Works Cited

“Absorbency of Paper Towels .” Absorbency of Paper Towels.

“List Some Factors That Would Increase the Rate of Diffusion.” Sciencing,

sciencing.com/list-factors-would-increase-rate-diffusion-12460.html.

Omondi, Sharon. “What Is Diffusion?” WorldAtlas, , 11 Oct. 2017,

www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-diffusion.html​.

printoutlet.us. “Printing 101.” What Does A Paper's Weight Mean?,

www.printoutlet.us/stockweight.php​.

Q & A: Measuring Paper Towel Absorbancy.” Q & A: Measuring Paper Towel Absorbancy |

Department of Physics | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,

van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=808

VanCleave, Janice. “How Paper Absorbs Water.” VanCleave's Science Fun, 4 Oct. 2011,

scienceprojectideasforkids.com/2011/paper-absorbs-water/.

What Is Absorption? - Definition from Corrosionpedia.” Corrosionpedia,

www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/26/absorption​.

Wick, Walter. A Drop of Water: a Book of Science and Wonder. Scholastic, 1998