DIFFUSION

INTRODUCTION AND EXPLANATION

Diffusion is the chemical process when molecules from a

material move from an area of high concentration (where there
are lots of molecules) to an area of low concentration (where
there are fewer molecules). This happens through otherwise
random movement. Diffusion usually happens in a gas although
it can happen in a liquid. It is possible to see diffusion happening
when two liquids are mixed in a transparent container. It
describes the constant movement of particles in all liquids and
gases. These particles move in all directions bumping into each
other. Diffusion can only work with gases and liquids. Here are
some examples of diffusion:

A sugar cube is left in a beaker of water for a while.

The smell of ammonia spread from the front of the
classroom to the back of the room.
Fumes of perfume rise from the bottle when the top is
removed.
Food coloring dropped on the beaker causing to spread
out.
Adding of sugar in water

One of the most important things about diffusion is that

molecules tend to move from places of high concentration to
places of low concentration, just by moving randomly. Therefore,
this is not the most effective way of moving in and out of cells,
however there are many examples where diffusion takes place
but is adapted so it is efficient. For example, there is more
oxygen in a lung than there is oxygen in the blood so oxygen
molecules will tend to move into the blood. Similarly, there is
more carbon dioxide molecules in the blood than in the lung so
carbon dioxide molecules will tend to move into the lung.
Diffusion can be considered to arise from probability alone areas of high density are, due to the random movement of fluid
molecules, likely to spread out within their boundary until they
can do so no longer. Diffusion is also connected to Entropy.

Entropy is a law of nature in which everything slowly goes into

disorder.