Diffusion of food dye

Background information: Diffusion is the name for the spreading out of a

substance. Perfume spreads out and can be smelt a long way away. Dye slowly
spreads through water, even though the water is not stirred.

Aim: To investigate diffusion in liquids

Equipment: Food dye, eye dropper, beaker

Method:
1 Almost fill a beaker with cold water.
2 Add a drop of food dye and let the mixture
stand for several minutes, sketching what you
observe every 30 seconds or so.
3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 using hot water.

Results:

Questions
Dye in cold water Dye in hot water

Discussion questions:
1 Explain why the spread of colour cannot be explained by gravity alone.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2 Explain how temperature affected your observations.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3 Explain the process of diffusion in this experiment in terms of particles.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Conclusion:

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________