Title

Aim To investigate if Potassium permanganate crystal will diffuse in water.

Material;
white sheet of paper

pencil

a pair of compasses

petri dish

Potassium permanganate crystals

water

timer

ruler

method

In preparing for experiment all materials and apparatus were collected for use throughout the
experiment

Subsequently the radii of 1,2,3,4 and 5cm was measured on a ruler using a pair of compasses for
accuracy

When the radii of the circles were measured five circles with same Centre of radii 1,2,3,4 and 5cm were
drawn using pencil and a pair of compasses on white sheet paper

Then the container was filled with tap water

Place the container with water on the directly on the outer circle on the white sheet of paper

Left the beaker for a minute so water can settle

Choose a single crystal of Potassium permanganate and drop it in the container of water so that it lands
in the 1cm circle that has been drawn on the sheet of paper

Immediately after the timer start buton was pressed to detect the time the Potassium permanganate
crystals took to diffuse to 1,2,3,4 and 5cm individually

Observe what happens in each case, record time and details

Discussion

Diffusion occurs when particles spread and move from a region where they are in high concentration to
a region where they are in low concentration that results in distribution of the chemicals particles to
become more uniform in space as time passes. The driving force for diffusion is the thermal motion of
molecules. At temperatures above absolute zero, molecules are never at rest. Them having kinetic
energy means that they are always in motion, and when molecules collide with each other frequently,
the direction of the motion becomes randomized but in most cases, these collisions are common. The
average kinetic energy of different types of molecules of different masses are the same but their
average velocities are different. Their average diffusion rate depends upon that average velocity, which
gives a relative diffusion rate. Diffusion proceeds at a maximum rate in gases, at a lower rate in liquids,
and at a still lower rate in solids. These differences are determined by the nature of thermal motion in
them. Diffusion is evident in gases and for particles dissolved in solutions. An experiment was conducted
to investigate what happens when Potassium permanganate when it comes in contact with water.
Potassium permanganate is a purplish colored crystalline solid. As the crystal of Potassium
permanganate is placed in the water, the water molecules begins the react with the potassium cation
and the permanganate anions held in the crystal to break the ionic bonds that hold the crystal together.
Eventually the random motion of potassium permanganate particles results in the purple color being
equally dispersed throughout the water. However when observing, the diffusion process would appear
slow because the dissolved particles of Potassium permanganate collide with the water molecules and
each other, slowing their progress. After the diffusion process is complete when the crystal is dissolved
in solution it can be observed that the solution will finally take on a uniform purple color which is simply
a homogeneous solution of Potassium permanganate in water.

Conclusion

When soild crystals of potassium permanganate IS add or comes in contact with the water at room
temperature diffusion takes place

The driving force for diffusion is the thermal motion of molecules. At temperatures above absolute zero,
molecules are never at rest. Their kinetic energy means that they are always in motion, and when
molecules collide with each other frequently, the direction of the motion becomes randomized but In
most cases, these collisions are common;.