OBJECTIVES:

 Determine the gas diffusion coefficient of acetone using the established Winkelmann’s
method

SUMMARY

This experiment is all about determining the gas diffusion coefficient of acetone using
the established Winkelmann’s method using the Gas Diffusion Coefficient Apparatus. The
parameters involved in this experiment are time, t (ks), the level of acetone, L (mm), the
liquid fall, (L-LO) (mm) and the time per liquid fall t/(L-L O) (ks/mm). Within the time of 0 ks,
the level of acetone, L is 75.03 mm, the liquid fall, (L-L O) is 0 mm, and the time per liquid
fall, t/(L-LO) is 0 ks/mm. Within the time of 10 ks, the level of acetone, L is 76.07 mm, the
liquid fall, (L-LO) is 1.04 mm, and the time per liquid fall, t/(L-L O) is 7014 ks/mm. Within the
time of 20 ks, the level of acetone, L is 78.00 mm, the liquid fall, (L-L O) is 2.07 mm, and the
time per liquid fall, t/(L-LO) is 7.41 ks/mm. Within the time of 30 ks, the level of acetone, L is
78.09 mm, the liquid fall, (L-LO) is 3.06 mm, and the time per liquid fall, t/(L-L O) is 8.33
ks/mm. Within the time of 40 ks, the level of acetone, L is 80.05 mm, the liquid fall, (L-L O) is
4.75 mm, and the time per liquid fall, t/(L-L O) is 8.42 ks/mm. Within the time of 50 ks, the
level of acetone, L is 80.85 mm, the liquid fall, (L-LO) is 5.82 mm, and the time per liquid fall,
t/(L-LO) is 8.59 ks/mm. Within the time of 60 ks, the level of acetone, L is 81.06 mm, the
liquid fall, (L-LO) is 6.57 mm, and the time per liquid fall, t/(L-L O) is 9.13 ks/mm. A trend
graph has been plotted to demonstrate the linear correlation between t/(L-L O) against (L-LO).
From that, based on the results achieved and the theory stated, the objective was achieved
which was to determine the gas diffusion coefficient of acetone using the established
Winkelmann’s method.
INTRODUCTION

Basically, this experiment was about to determine the gas diffusion coefficient of
acetone using the established Winkelmann’s method. The Winkelmann’s method is allowed
the volatile liquid to evaporate in a vertical glass tube over the top of which a stream of vapor-
free gas is passed. A water bath is provided for maintaining a steady temperature so that there
is no eddy current in the vertical tube ration can be followed by the rate of fall of the liquid
surface. A traveling microscope is provided for determining, the liquid fall. With the
knowledge of the concentration gradient, the diffusivity of the vapor of the volatile liquid can
then be calculated.

This experiment also had been divided into some parts which were start-up produce,
priming procedure for the capillary tube and shut-down procedure. The experimental
procedure of this experiment is followed by a few steps. Firstly, perform the start-up
procedure as stated in lab manual. Next, switch off the air pump to partially fill the capillary
tube with acetone to a depth of about 35 mm. Then carefully insert the capillary tube through
the fitting on top of the water bath cover. Make sure not over-tighten the fitting. Observe the
initial level of acetone through the microscope and record the level in the table. Connects the
flexible tubing from the air pump line to one end of the capillary tube. The air pump can be
switch on. After 10 minutes, switch off the air pump. Disconnect the flexible tubing and
detach the capillary tube from the fitting. Observe and record the level of the acetone. Repeat
steps 5 to 6 at 10 minutes intervals. Record the time, acetone level and liquid fall in result
table.
THEORY

Theory of gas diffusion is the process of particles moving from region of

high concentration to low concentration. It can be referred as the movement of a substance
down a concentration gradient. Gradient is the value change of a quantity by changing to
another variable. The rate of this movement is a function of temperature, viscosity of the
medium, and the size of the particles. Diffusion results in the gradual mixing of material.
Eventually it can forms a homogeneous mixture.

In kinetic theory, gas diffusion describes a gas as a large number of submicroscopic

particles, all of which are in constant rapid motion that has randomness arising from their
many collisions with each other and with the walls of the container.
Discussion:
The purpose of the experiment was to determine the gas diffusion coefficient of
acetone using the established Winkelmann’s method. The theory of scheme is the gas
diffusion coefficient of acetone using the Winkelmann’s method is to diffuse the gas into a
volatile liquid. This can be done by confining the liquid in a small narrow tube and observing
the rate of evaporation.

The experiment was began with performed the start-up procedure as outlined in
section 3. Next, initially switch off the air pump and then partially fill the capillary tube with
acetone to a depth of about 35 mm. After that, carefully insert the capillary tube through the
fitting on top of the water bath cover and do not over tighten the fitting. Observe the initial
level of acetone through the microscope. After observed, record the level in the table. The
flexible tubing from the air pump line to one end of the capillary tube has been connected.
After that, switched on the air pump and waited for 10 minutes and switched off the air pump.
Disconnected the flexible tubing and detached the capillary tube from the fitting. Lastly,
observe and record the level of the acetone. Steps 5 to 6 was repeated at 10 minutes intervals.

Based on figure 1, the result recorded every 10 minutes. The Level of Acetone, L
(mm) was recorded for every 10 minutes intervals and the level were (75.03, 76.07, 78.00,
78.09, 80.05, 80.85, 81.06) mm. To obtain the Liquid Fall, subtracted first the L and Lo and
the resulted obtained were (0, 1.04, 2.97, 3.06, 5.02, 5.82, 6.03), the unit was in mm. Lastly,
the time and liquid fall was divided in order to obtain time per liquid fall result. The result of
time per liquid were (0, 0.58, 0.40, 0.59, 0.48, 0.52, 0.60), the unit was in (ks/mm). From the
resulted obtain, the level of acetone were increase every 10 minutes intervals. This is because
it shows that the volatile liquid was evaporated in a vertical glass tube in this experiment.

From the graph obtained, it can concluded that the time per liquid fall was linear with
liquid fall. The slope of the graph was increased, it shows that the time were directly
proportional with the liquid fall. Based on theory, the result obtained in the experiment it
prove that by monitoring the evaporation rate, which was the rate of fall of liquid surface, and
with the knowledge of concentration gradient, one may then calculate the diffusivity of the
vapour of a volatile liquid. The objective of the experiment was archieved.

There were few possible errors in this experiment which is the parallax error where the
eye was not perpendicular to the measuring scale. Next, there was experimental error during
taking of the reading at meniscus of the acetone. The capillary tube and syringe used must be
rinsed several times before confining the acetone using both apparatus to avoid further
contamination.
Result:

Time, Level of Liquid Fall

t Acetone, L (L - L0) t/(L - L0)
(ks) (mm) (mm) (ks/mm)
0.0 75.03 0.00 0.00

0.6 76.07 1.04 0.58

1.2 78.00 2.97 0.40

1.8 78.09 3.06 0.59

2.4 80.05 5.02 0.48

3.0 80.85 5.82 0.52

3.6 81.06 6.03 0.60

Figure 1
CONCLUSIONS

For the conclusion, the aim for this experiment was to study diffusivity of acetone gas
based on Winkelmann’s theory of mass transfer. The hypothesis for level of acetone is
decrease as the time increase can be conclude that this hypothesis is accepted based on the
table of result. Based on the graph plotted also shows that the flowing air is increase as the
slope for diffusion coefficient is increase and the R2 is 0.3697 . The value of R2 is 0.3697 than
it suppose showed that few mistakes had been done that affect the result. Human error is one
of the main cause when reading the telescope. The controlled temperature was changed that is
mm2
about 50 ℃. The diffusivity of the acetone was calculated is equal to _____ .
s
Furthermore, the temperature difference in this experiment will affect the result as the
molecules speed depends on temperature. This reason is why the diffusion was not fairly
distributed.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Here are fews of precaution ;

 There must only one student that take the telescope reading and the eye level must be
meniscus to the eye level in order to have a precise result.
 In order to have good result make sure that it has constant temperature.
 The air pump should be checked first in order to avoid parallax error.
 Acetone is flammable so we must avoid uses this chemical near source of heat.
1) Plot t/(L-L0) against (L-L0). Determine gas diffusivity, D from the obtained Slope, s. attracted all
of your calculation at the appendix at the experiment report.

t/(L-L0)- (L-L0)
0.7

0.6
f(x) = 0.06 x + 0.26
R² = 0.37
0.5
t/(L-L0)
0.4
Linear (t/(L-L0))
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Find D,
CBM = (0.0377 kmol/m3)- (0.00731 kmol/m3)
In 0.0377 kmol/m3
1.6404

= 0.0185 kmol/m3

ρ L C BM
D=
2 M CA CT S

 ρL : 760.0 kg/m3
 M : 58.08 kg/mol
 Partial pressure P* : 0.8062 atm
C B1 −C B2
C BM =
C B1
ln
 C B2
 where for acetone,
CB1 = 0.0377 kmol/m3
CB2 = 0.00731 kmol/m3
CA = 0.0304 kmol/m3
CT = 0.0377 kmol/m3
 Slope value, S : 0.0551 ks/mm2 = 5.51 x 10-3 s/m2
 Temperature : 50 °C / 323.15 K
CALCULATION:

0.0377 kmol /m3 – 0.00731 kmol /m3

C BM = o .o 377 kmol/m3
ln (
0.00731kmol /m3 )
= 0.0185 kmol/m3

(760.0 kg /m3 )(0.0185 kmol /m3 )

D= kg kmol 0.0377 kmol
(
2 58.08
mol )(
0.0304 3
m m)(
3 )
(6.06 ×10−3 s /m 2 )

= 19167.35 m2/ks @ 19.1674 m2/s

2. Compare the experimental value with the theoretical value that can be predicted from empirical
equations (eg. modified Maxwell’s equation by Gilliland).

From this experiment, unexactly value was obtained compared to the theoretical value. The
reason of the different value is because of the different slope in the obtained graph. This is because the
time was not set accurately and the cross level of the acetone through the microscope was no easily
detected. The measured values of L0 or L will not be measured accurately but accurate values of (L-L 0)
are available. That can be predicted from empirical formula because when a component in a mixture
migrates in the same phase or from phase to phase because of a different in concentration between two
points will occurs mass transfer.

3. Discuss the factors that effect the diffusions of acetone from the graph that have been plotted.

The value of slope that was no linear was one of the factors that effect diffusion of acetone
from the graph that has been plotted. Another factor was human error when the reading of meniscus
was taken. It will effect the diffusions because if the reading taken late, acetone will evaporate and the
reading was not accurate anymore. Third factor was, the telescope was hard to adjust so that the
meniscus of acetone can be read. This could make the reading taken late and acetone had already
evaporated. Beside that, the capillary tube was not clean well and there were bubbles inside the
capillary tube. When the acetone mixed with water the morality of the acetone will increase and it also
can effect vaporization. It was quite long time taken to find the capillary tube in water bath.
Moreover, the traveling telescope was not clear.

4) Based on objective of the experiment and the theory in gas diffusion make a conclusion from your
findings.
 The objective for the experiment was to determine the gas diffusion coefficient of
acetone using Winkelmann’s method. In this experiment the theory showed that mass transfer take
place in a gas phase and liquid phase. Winkelmann’s method showed that the diffusivity occurred
when there is a maintained temperature and a narrow vertical tube fill with volatile liquid to
evaporate. Mass transfer also takes place in this experiment and it occurred from the surface of the
Acetone by molecular diffusion alone. Through the theory and Winkelmann’s method, the
diffusivity can be calculated.

REFERENCES

 Lab Manual Transport Process.

 Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer, J. Wiley and sons, New York, 1996
 J.P. Holman : "Heat Transfer", 7"1 Edition, McGraw Hill, 1992
 http://www.efunda.com/formulae/heat_gas/diffusion/overview_dif.cfm
 www.thermopedia.com/content/696/