Diffusion in Solids:

Diffusion is relative flow of one material into another.

In solids,Diffusion occurs due to thermally activated random motion of atoms,unless
the material is at absolute zero temperature , individual atoms keep vibrating and
eventually move within the material.
Examples of diffusion
(solid in solid):
1)If we write something on a black board and leave it uncleaned for a period say 10
- 15 days, 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 surface of the board.
2)If two metals blocks are bound together tightly and kept undisturbed for a few
years, then the particles of one metal are found to have diffused into the other
metal.
3)Pure gold and pure lead will diffuse into each other.
4)Solid diffuses in to solid is the formation of alloy
(liquid in solid):
1)When liquid diffuses in a solid like mercury is mixed with Zinc metal. Here
mercury is in liquid state whereas Zinc is in solid state.

Difference:
Diffusion in liquids: When substances dissolve in liquids (like salt dissolving in
water) the substances spread out. We call this spreading out of dissolved particles
diffusion. The end result of this is that the solute particles that have dissolved
in water will spread out evenly. This movement or spreading out is due to the fact
that in liquids the particles are moving randomly.

Diffusion in gases: When two or more different gases, like oxygen and nitrogen are
mixed they will mix themselves evenly. We call this mixing of particles diffusion.
This is due to the random movement of particles.

Diffusion in solids: Diffusion does not happen in solids because the particles are
not free to move around and so they cannot inter-mix

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
Cigarette smoke diffuses into the air
the burning of the incense stick or the air fresheners
Placing food coloring in a liquid will diffuse the colour