Practice problems on molecular diffusion

1. Think of atleast 2-3 examples involving (a) diffusion of A through non-diffusing B and
(b) equimolar counterdiffusion of A and B.
2. What is the stationary medium approximation? What does Fick’s second law look like?
3. In a diffusion of A in non-diffusing B though a constant cross-sectional area, from 𝑧 =
𝑧1 , 𝑝𝑎 = 𝑝𝐴1 to 𝑧 = 𝑧2 , 𝑝𝑎 = 𝑝𝐴2 (𝑝𝐴1 > 𝑝𝐴2 ), where will you find the highest
magnitude of the partial pressure gradient?
4. Explain why you can’t use the Stefan-tube experiment to measure the gas-phase
diffusivity if it is carried out very close to the boiling point of the liquid?
5. Equimolar counter-diffusion of A and B occurs between points 1 (𝑦1 = 0.3) and 2
(𝑦2 = 0.1) through a distance of 1 cm. Given 𝑃𝑡 =1atm, and 𝐷𝐴𝑏 = 0.2 𝑐𝑚2 /𝑠.What is
the diffusion velocity of A halfway in the diffusion path?
6. Example 2.14 and 2.15 from B.K. Dutta
7. A spherical drop of liquid A and radius 𝑟𝑜 evaporates into a stagnant layer of gas B.
Derive an expression for the evaporation rate of species A in terms of the saturation
pressure of species A, 𝑝𝐴,𝑠𝑎𝑡 , the partial pressure of species A at an arbitrary radius r,
𝑝𝐴 (𝑟) the total pressure 𝑃𝑇 , and other necessary quantities. Assume the droplet and the
mixture are at a uniform pressure and temperature T.
8. Exercise problem 2.23, 2.24, 2.28, 2.31 in B.K.Dutta
9. Just as heat diffusion may be influenced by internal sources of energy, species transfer
by diffusion may be influenced by homogeneous chemical reactions. We restrict our
𝑑𝐶𝐴
attention to stationary media, in which case we have 𝑁𝐴 = 𝐽𝐴 = −𝐷𝐴𝐵 . Starting
𝑑𝑥
from the species conservation equation
𝜕𝐶𝐴 𝜕𝑁𝐴,𝑥 𝜕𝑁𝐴,𝑦 𝜕𝑁𝐴,𝑧
+ + + + 𝑅𝐴 = 0
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
and assuming steady, one-dimensional transfer in the 𝑥 direction, constant 𝐷𝐴𝐵 and
with 𝑅𝐴 = 𝑘 (zeroth order reaction), determine the concentration profile and the molar
flux as a function of 𝑥. Assume that the media is contained between the points 𝑥 = 0
𝑑𝐶𝐴
and 𝑥 = 𝐿. At 𝑥 = 0, 𝐶𝐴 = 0 and at 𝑥 = 𝐿, = 0 (The second boundary condition
𝑑𝑥
can arise if the flux at 𝑥 = 𝐿 is zero). Will 𝑁𝐴 be constant in this case? Why or why not?
10. Consider the radial diffusion of a gaseous species (A) through the wall of a plastic tube
(B) and allow for chemical reactions that provide for the depletion of A at a rate 𝑅𝐴
𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙
( ). Derive a differential equation that governs the molar concentration of species A
𝑚3 𝑠
in the plastic.