STATES OF MATTER

DIFFUSION
 Learning Points
• Explain diffusion in terms of particle
theory.
 Diffusion
If you open a bottle of perfume at arm's
length you can soon smell it.

Perfume particles mingle with air particles

and move through the air until they reach
your nose. We call this diffusion.

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 Diffusion
Diffusion is the movement of particles from
a High concentration (level) to a low
concentration.

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 DIFFUSION OF GASES

When the
particles of two
gases mix, they
spread easily
through each
other.
This is also called
Diffusion.

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 QUICK EXPERIMENT
AIM: To find out if gases diffuse (move)
through the air.
 INSTRUCTIONS
• Collect a stop-watch and set it to zero time.

• Close your eyes and start the watch when

your teacher has said that they have sprayed
a substance into the classroom.

• Stop the watch when you smell the substance.

• Compare how long it took you to smell the gas

substance.
 WHAT HAPPENED?

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY?

 EXPLANATION
• Pupils closest to the sprayed gas
smell it more quickly than those
further away, because it is more
concentrated.

• Different gases diffuse (move)

through the air at different speeds.
 DIFFUSION OF GASES

Your teacher is going to

show you a brown coloured
gas diffusing.
 DIFFUSION OF GASES

Nitrogen
dioxide
diffusing

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 DIFFUSION OF GASES
Q. Do you think it would make any
difference if the glass jars were
turned sideways or upside down?

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WHY DO GASES DIFFUSE?
Gas particles move from
an area where there is a
HIGH level to an area
where there is a low
LEVEL of the particles i.e.
DIFFUSION.
DIFFUSION OF GASES

Click here to see a video on the

diffusion of gases.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=H7QsDs8ZRMI
GASES DIFFUSING IN
YOUR BODY
In your lungs gases
(oxygen and carbon
dioxide) are
diffusing all the
time to
keep you alive.

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GASES DIFFUSING IN
YOUR BODY
In your lungs gases
(oxygen and carbon
dioxide) are
diffusing all the
time to
keep you alive.

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