Application of Fick’s Law for the Determination of Diffusivity
Alviar, J.P.N. | Bergonio, J.J.A. | Eligion, M.E.T. | Laurel, M.A.T. | Mecaydor, M.A.D. | Pesito, A.R.
CHE132L – Chemical Engineering Laboratory 2 / A03
1st term of A.Y. 2020-2021
Mapúa Institute of Technology at Laguna
Malayan Colleges Laguna
ABSTRACT
Diffusion is the state where the substance is
being spread out or flowed out into a high
concentration area into an area of low
concentration. In this experiment, the ratio
between the concentration of a saline solution
and the conductivity was determined, the
relationship between the concentration,
conductivity, and time was observed, and the
diffusivities of sodium chloride of different
concentrations were determined. It can be
concluded that the concentration is directly
proportional with time, in terms of that, as the
concentration increases with time, the rate of
diffusion will increase as well.
INTRODUCTION
Diffusion is a term used for the movement of a
substance, particularly, when a substance from
an area of high concentration moves to an area
of low concentration. This movement continuous
until there is no concentration gradient, which
means that the concentration was even out and
is at equilibrium. Diffusion happens for fluid
substances because their particles moves
randomly from place to place. It also happens
because of the collision of particles with each
other or in a container. Diffusion is described by
Fick’s law.
Experiment 1. Application of Fick’s Law for the
Determination of Diffusivity
CHE132L – A03
Where,
J (mol m -2 s-1 ) - the flux and is defined by the
number or particles that are moving past a
given region divided by the area of that
region multiplied by the time interval.
D - represents the diffusion coefficient with
units m2 s
c - concentration of the gradient with units'
molecules m-3
Fick's diffusion experimental law establishes
that, in a system in which there are
concentration gradients, the component moves
regarding the global movement of the mixture,
in the direction of the negative concentration
gradients, according to next equation:
J a =−C D AB Δ X A
JA =flux
DAB - proportionality coefficients,
2 -1
ms
CΔXA - gradient operator applied to the
concentration of A
This equation represents the so-called Fick's
Law of the diffusion. In this case, the diffusivity
DAB is practically independent from the system's
concentration.
There are factors that affects the
diffusion because molecules move continuously
By: Group #3
BS in Chemical Engineering
because of the thermal energy that they have.
This movement is affected by the size of particle
and its environment. One of the factors is the
concentration. Diffusion occurs due to the
concentration gradient, if the difference in
concentration is higher, then the molecules will
go down the concentration gradient faster. If
there is not as great of a difference in
concentration, the molecules will not move as
quickly and the rate of diffusion will decrease.
The second factor is the temperature. If the
temperature increases, the kinetic energy of
molecules increases, thus the movement of
particles increases and diffusion will be faster.
The next factor is the mass of particle, heavier
particles will move slowly so the diffusion will
also be slower. The other factors include
viscosity and density, if the medium that a given
particle has to diffuse through is very dense or
viscous, then the particle will have a harder
time diffusing through it. So, the rate of
diffusion will be lower.
To learn more about diffusion, different
experiments can be done. For this experiment a
QDTL unit is used. It is a didactic unit that allows
the learner to go into the theoretical knowledge
that he may have about the unitary operations
of mass transfer; specifically, about the
diffusion in liquids systems.
Liquids diffusivities are usually of lower
by 4 to 5 in magnitude to those of gases at the
atmospheric pressure. The average distance
travelled between the collisions is lower than
the molecular diameter, in comparison with
what happens with gases, where the average
free range has higher magnitude order than the
molecule size. The diffusivities for diluted liquid
solutions may be roughly calculated from the
equation:
Conductivity is the capacity of a solution
to conduct the electric current. It can also be
defined as a measure of the total ionic
concentration that a solution has. By knowing
the nature of the involve ion, the concentration
can be determined. To know the diffusivity of
the solute in the solvent, there is a possibility to
resort to indirect measures, that is to say, to
calculate the diffusivity from another known
variable. The conductometer measures the
electric conductivity of the ions in a solution.
The usual measure units are S/cm. To avoid
changes in the substances, effects of layer on
the electrodes, etc., an alternating current
could be applied. The conductivity of a solution
is highly dependent of the temperature. This
one has a double effect on the electrolytes: it
has an influence on their solution and on their
ionic mobility.
2
 The solution concentration can be
determined indirectly from the conductivity.
The expression used will be the following:
Figure 2. Conductivity variation speed regarding
time
Thus, if it is represented the conductivity
regarding time, it is possible to obtain the
diffusion coefficient or diffusivity from the
slope.
EXPERIMENT OBJECTIVES
1. To have theoretical knowledge about the
unitary operations of mass transfer,
specifically how diffusion works in liquid
system
2. To have optical comprehension of the
process
3. To have technical learning for the
experimenter
4. To analyze and identify data and how the
diffusion of liquids affects the result
5. To study the effect of diffusivity in the
concentration
6. To study the diffusion of a solute in a liquid
solvent specifically distilled water
7. To know the relationship between the
concentration, conductivity and time
8. To know the ratio between the concentration
of a saline solution and the conductivity
METHODOLOGY
** Pretend that it happened on a laboratory,
face-to-face class
1. The group prepared 2M,1.5M, and 1.0M
saline solution, NaCl. Then placed it in a
diffusion cell. After preparing the solution, it was
placed inside a Edibon Diffusion vessel and
filled up with 1.5L to 2L distilled water. It was
ensured that the water should surpass the 5mm
diffusion cell.
2. The group made sure that the conductivity
meter was calibrated before making any
measurements. Then, the saline solution was
measured its conductivity and record the results.
3. Next, magnetic stirrer was turned on, ensured
that it was on low speed. After 5 mins, the
conductivity was measured and recorded with
time interval of 30 seconds.
4. After getting the results and data for 2.0M
NaCl solution, it was diluted with 0.1M increment
until it reaches 1.5M. Then measured and
recorded every change of its concentration.
3
5. After that, the group proceeded to 1.5M saline Table 2. Tabulated Results of Conductivity at

solution with same step from 1-4, but this time it different concentrations (M), µS

will be diluted into 1.0M solution.

Graph 2. Graph of Concentration Vs Conductivity

6. After obtaining the 1.0M solution, it should
follow the same steps 1-3. K AT K AT K AT
TIME(S) 2M(µS) 1.5M(µS) 1M(µS)
7. When all of the prepared solution is now done 30 7.2 7.5 4.8
and recorded. The concentration vs. conductivity 60 28.2 20.0 42.2
should be graph. The group should also 90 34.4 30.9 58.9
120 40.1 41.5 67.6
calculate dk/dt, plot dk/dt vs. time, graph
150 48.0 51.2 76.1
concentration vs. time, and find the slope. 180 58.0 51.2 81.3
210 59.9 45.2 84.4
DATA AND RESULTS 240 69.6 77.0 85.0
270 76.8 84.8 80.0
300 78.6 80.7 79.5
Table 1. Tabulated Results of Conductivity, µS
330 83.5 83.0 82.1
360 84.0 78.9 90.3
CONCENTRATION(M) CONDUCTIVITY(µS) 390 84.4 78.3 94.4
2.00 155.4 420 89.8 74.6 106.6
1.50 151.4 450 96.1 117.0 105.8
1.00 149.3 480 99.2 119.3 109.2
510 102.7 107.8 106.7
540 103.7 112.3 69.2

EXPERIMENT 1
1000
800
600
400
200
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

TIME(S) K AT 2M(µS)
K AT 1.5M(µS) K AT 1M(µS)
Graph 1. Graph of Concentration Vs Conductivity

Table 3. Tabulated Results of Conductivity at

EXPERIMENT 0 different Temperatures (deg C), µS
155.4
156
CONDUCTIVITY(µS)

154 R² ==0.97
f(x) 6.1 x + 142.88 TIME(S) K AT 31C K AT 25C K AT 34C
151.4
152 30 0.0 13.1 3.6
149.3
150 60 5.5 31.4 9.8
148
90 13.7 41.0 12.2
146
0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80 2.00 2.20 120 15.9 40.3 14.0
CONCENTRATION(M) 150 16.9 50.6 15.9
180 18.2 55.9 18.1

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 210 18.8 58.1 18.7 that as concentration decreases, conductivity
2240 19.1 63.0 19.2 also decreases thus resulting to have a
270 19.7 63.7 21.4 decreasing trend in the graph. In comparing
300 20.2 63.8 23.8
these different concentrations, it shows that the
330 20.9 64.4 25.9
360 21.4 65.3 26.8 2M concentration has the highest conductivity
390 21.4 65.9 28.2 value between the three. In relating between the
420 22.2 66.8 29.0 concentration and the conductivity. Considering
450 22.6 67.0 31.6
table 2, it shows that the conductivity is directly
480 23.1 67.5 32.4
510 23.2 68.0 33.8 proportional with the concentration. The data
540 26.6 68.4 35.6 shows that most samples with its conductivity
570 23.9 68.1 36.3 increases over time, but there is a sudden
600 24.1 68.7 36.9
decrease in concentration under 1M sample
(270s up to 540s). Graph 3 shows the trend in
conductivity at different temperatures, as you
can notice in Table 3, the data is inconsistent.

The possible sources of error in this experiment

are a.)Not distilled water that was used in the
experiment because it can disturb the diffusion
due to the minerals which are Calcium and
Magnesium that is present in the water. b.) The
conductometer is not calibrated that could lead
Graph 3. Graph of Concentration Vs Conductivity
to incorrect data reading c.) The number of
concentrations for test points because the more
EXPERIMENT 3 points it has the better the results and will
2500 improve the accuracy of the experiment.
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 REFERENCES

TIME(S) K AT 31C
K AT 25C K AT 34C 1. Geankoplis, C.J. (1995). Transport Process
and Unit Operations, 3rd edition

ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION, & 2. Brown, G.G. et. Al. (1950). Unit Operations

CONCLUSION 3. https://sciencing.com/calculate-diffusion-
rate-6859552.html

Table 1 shows the data for the conductivity

against concentrations. Based on Graph 1, all
three plots with different concentrations shows APPENDICES

5
For Flow Rate (as in Table 1):
(a) Flow rate

Measured Volume
Q actual =
Recorded Time
Equation 2 Actual Volumetric Flow Rate

0.1633 Liters 1 cubic meter

Q actual = ×
3.36 seconds 1000 Liters

−5 m3
Q actual =4.8601 ×1 0
s