EXPERIMENT 3

DIFFUSION OF LIQUIDS THROUGH STAGNANT NON-DIFFUSING AIR EXPERIMENT

DE DIOS, Maryjane | DEL ROSARIO, John Matthew | LETADA, Eugenio | LIM, Kassandra | MALIWAT, Kris Marielle

I. Introduction diameter vertical tube, maintained at a constant

Diffusion is defined as the process of mass
transfer of individual molecules of a substance
from one part of a system to another, carried by
random molecular motions, and is associated to
forces such as concentration gradient.
temperature, and air stream passed through over
the top of the tube. All these are to ensure that the
vapor partial pressure was been transferred from
the surface of the liquid to the air stream by
molecular diffusion.

Molecular diffusion is the transfer or II. Materials and Reagents

movement of individual molecules through a fluid a. Water Bath
b. 5 Capillary Tubes
by random molecular movements. In the diffusion c. Small Electric Fan
process, the molecules of interest flow from d. Barometer
e. Receptables for Capillary Tubes
regions of high concentration to low concentration. f. Vernier Caliper
Molecular diffusion can occur in both directions g. Timer
h. Thermometer
with the system.
Chemicals:
The diffusion mechanism happens when the o Ethanol
particles near each other at the corner of glass. o Ethyl Acetate
o Methanol
Then, as time goes by, the particles will “move
randomly around” in the water, which by means III. Procedure

diffuse. Then particles will distribute randomly and 1. Prepare the water bath and fill it with tap water
uniformly in the water. The diffusion will still and set it at 50 ◦C.
continue to occur but there is no net flux. This
2. Fill the capillary tubes with pure volatile
machine used for this experiment is to determine
organic liquids and measure the initial height of
the gas diffusion coefficient by evaporation from a
the liquid.
liquid surface for liquid(e.g acetate, ethanol, and
methanol)-air system. In this set-up, the liquids 3. Provide a gentle stream of air by turning on
diffuse through non-diffusing air, which is passed the electric fan.
over the top of the capillary containing the liquids.
4. Measure the height of the remaining liquid in
The diffusivity of the vapor of a volatile liquid the capillary tubes after 10 and 15 minutes.
in air can be determined by using Winklemann’s
method. In which liquid was contained in a narrow
 5. Repeat 2 – 4 for trial 2 (water bath V. Conclusion
temperature = 65 ◦C) and trial 3 (water bath
We therefore conclude that it has been
temperature = 80◦ C)
theoretically proved that higher temperature
6. Compare the results with those obtained causing the molecules of substance to gain higher
using Chapman and Engskog equation and other kinetic energy and moves randomly and freely
empirical equation. hence increasing the rate of diffusion. Thus, it is
evident in the experiment that higher temperatures
IV. Data and Results
increase the energy and therefore the movement
Trial 1: T= 54.7ºC of the molecules, increasing the rate of diffusion.
The experiment was done at 54.7 ºC, 65 ºC, and
Initial Height Height
Liquid Height after after 80 ºC with three different volatile liquids. Lower
(mm) 10mins 15mins
temperatures decrease the energy of the
Ethanol 47.5 45 44
Ethyl molecules, thus decreasing the rate of diffusion.
35 35 35
Acetate
Therefore, as the temperature rises, methanol
Methanol 44 66 65
diffuses the most. Finally, the experiment has
accomplished us with the study of diffusivity and
Trial 2: T= 65ºC
familiarity with the use of laboratory instruments to
Initial Height achieve accurate measurements of data required
Height after
Liquid Height after
15mins for industrial process design.
(mm) 10mins
Ethanol 44 43.5 43
Ethyl VI. Questions
35 34.5 34
Acetate 1. Discuss the following:
Methanol 64 46 45
a. Fick’s Law - During diffusion we assume
particles move in the direction of least
Trial 3: T= 80ºC density. They move down the
concentration gradient. The rate of
Initial Height Height diffusion depends on the concentration
Liquid Height after after
(mm) 10mins 15mins gradient, area (A) , and diffusion constant
Ethanol 45 44 43.5 (D).
Ethyl b. Equimolal Counter Diffusion - the molar
35 34.5 34.5 fluxes or A and B are equal, but opposite
Acetate
Methanol 46 44.5 44 in direction, and the total pressure is
constant throughout. Hence we can
write: N = NA + NB = 0. [ Remember:
pressure is caused by the collisions of
molecules with the container wall.
VII. Documentation