Investigating diffusion – Unit 6.

What is a variable?
A variable is a quantity that may change in an experiment.
VARIABLES
Independent variables
Dependent variables
Control variables

What is an independent variable?

The variable you change is called the independent variable.

Eg: Application of fertilizer

What is a dependent variable?

The variable you measure as the result is called the dependent variable.
Eg: Growth of a plant, number of leaves etc.

What are control variables?

The variables you keep the same are called the control variables.
eg: Using the same type of plant
Same environmental conditions
Same soil type

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Diffusion in Daily Life

Being a universal physical phenomenon, diffusion happens all over daily life. Here are a few
notable examples.

Balloons

Ever notice how helium balloons slowly lose their lift? That’s because the helium is gradually
diffusing from a helium-rich environment inside the balloon to the helium-poor environment of
the outside air.

Food Coloring

A drop of food coloring in a glass of watercolors the water through diffusion. The dye molecules
slowly spread evenly through the liquid, creating one particular shade.

Perfume

When perfume (or air freshener, cigarette smoke, or just about any other strongly scented
substance) is produced in one part of a room, it spreads to the rest through diffusion. There are
fewer of the scent-producing chemicals in the further parts of the room, so the molecules
naturally spread out.

Soda

Sodas go flat through diffusion. Air has a lower concentration of that bubbly carbon
dioxide than the drink does, so the CO2 molecules depart the beverage and spread into the air.

Tea

Stirring loose tea leaves into hot water (using a teabag includes osmosis as water flows into the
teabag) causes the chemicals that make tea to diffuse into the water, producing the all-
important beverage.

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The rate of diffusion

The rate of diffusion can be affected by a number of factors:

Factor Reason

The concentration gradient The greater the difference in concentration, the

quicker the rate of diffusion.

The temperature The higher the temperature, the more kinetic

energy the particles will have, so they will move
and mix more quickly.

The surface area The greater the surface area, the faster the rate of
diffusion

Mass of particles Heavier particles will move more slowly

and so will have a slower rate of diffusion.

Smaller
particles on the other hand will
diffuse faster because they can move
faster

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Concentration:

Diffusion of molecules is entirely dependent on moving from an area of higher concentration

to an area of lower concentration. In other words, diffusion occurs down the concentration
gradient of the molecule in question. 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.

Temperature:

Particles move due to the kinetic energy associated with them. As temperature increases, the
kinetic energy associated with each particle also increases. As a result, particles will move
faster. If they can move faster, then they can also diffuse faster. Conversely, when the kinetic
energy associated with the molecules decreases so does their movement. As a result, the rate
of diffusion will be slower.

Mass of Particle:

Heavier particles will move more slowly and so will have a slower rate of diffusion. Smaller
particles on the other hand will diffuse faster because they can move faster. As is key with all
factors affecting diffusion, movement of the particle is paramount in determining if diffusion
is slowed down or sped up.

Particle size and diffusion rate

Particle size is one factor that affects the rate of diffusion. At a given temperature, smaller
particles will move more quickly than larger particles. This means that diffusion rate is inversely
proportional to, or the opposite of, a particle's size.

Influence of viscosity on diffusion rate

Another factor that affects diffusion rate is viscosity. In a more viscous substance, which is one
that is thicker, particles have difficulty moving. Therefore, they move at lower speeds than in a
less viscous substance. For example, particles move more slowly in a solid substance like butter
than in a less dense substance like water.

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How distance affects diffusion rate

Variations in the distance between two points of diffusion also influences diffusion rate. When
particles are closer together, there is less distance that molecules have to cover. This means
that they have a higher diffusion rate. When particles are farther away, molecules take a longer
time to travel between them, which results in a lower diffusion rate.

Rate of diffusion of gases

The gases diffuse because the particles collide with other particles, and bounce off in all
directions. But gases do not all diffuse at the same rate, every time. It depends on these factors.

1.The mass of the particles

Cotton wool soaked in ammonia solution is put into one end of a long tube(at A below). It gives
off ammonia gas.

At the same time, cotton wool soaked in hydrochloric acid is put in to the other end of the
tube(at B). It gives off hydrogen chloride gas.

A B

The gases diffuse along the tube. White smoke forms where they meet:

The white smoke forms closer to B. So the ammonia particles have travelled further than the
hydrogen chloride particles – which means they have travelled faster.

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The mass of ammonia molecules are lighter than hydrogen chloride molecules.

The lower the mass of its particles , the faster a gas will diffuse.

2.The temperature

When a gas is heated, its particles take in heat energy, and move faster. They collide
with more energy ,and bounce further away. So the gas diffuses faster. The higher the
temperature , the faster a gas will diffuse.

(219) Does Temperature Effect The Rate of Diffusion? (Water Temperature & Food Coloring
Experiment) - YouTube