1

The Effect of Molecular Weight on the Rate of Diffusion of Substances

1


















Alexander Ken Libranza
Group 1 Sec. A 1L












March 6, 2012











1
A scientific paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in General
Biology I laboratory under Prof. Cheryl M. Talde, 2
nd
sem., 2011-2012.

2

ABSTRACT

The effect of molecular weight on the rate of diffusion was
assessed using two tests: the glass tube test and the agar-water gel test.
In the glass tube set-up, two cotton plugs soaked in two different
substances (HCl and NH
4
OH) were inserted into the two ends of the glass
tube. The substance with the lighter molecular weight value (NH
4
OH, M =
35.0459 g/mole) diffused at a faster rate (d
Ave
= 25.8cm), resulting in the
formation of a white ring around the glass closer to the side of the heavier
substance (HCl, M = 36.4611 g/mole; d
Ave
= 10.8 cm). The agar-water gel
set up was composed of a petri dish of agar-water gel containing three
wells. Drops of potassium permanganate (KMnO
4
), potassium dichromate
(K
2
Cr
2
O
7
) and methylene blue were simultaneously introduced to each
well. Methylene blue, having the largest molecular weight, displayed the
smallest diameter (18 mm) and diffused at the slowest rate (0.3668
mm/min.). Thus, the higher the molecular weight, the slower the rate of
diffusion.


INTRODUCTION

A substance in the gaseous or liquid state consists of molecules or atoms that
are independent, rapid, and random in motion. These molecules frequently collide with
each other and with the sides of the container. In a period of time, this movement
results in a uniform distribution of the molecules throughout the system. This process is
called diffusion (Everett and Everett, 2007). Diffusion occurs naturally, with the net
movement of particles flowing from an area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration. Net diffusion can be restated as the movement of particles along the
concentration gradient.


3

According to Meyertholen (2007), there are several factors which may affect the
rate of diffusion of a substance. These factors include the size of the particle or the
molecular weight of the substance, temperature or availability of energy in the system,
difference in concentrations inside the system, diffusion distance, and if the system
involves a membrane or barrier, the surface area of the barrier, and the barriers
permeability. The greater the concentration of a substance in an area of a system
entails that the frequency of particles colliding with each other is higher, causing the
particles to push each other at a faster rate. These collisions are due to the high
molecular velocities associated with the thermal energy powering the particles (Nave,
2008). At a given temperature, a smaller particle is said to diffuse at a faster rate than a
larger one. This is because the larger the size of a particle, a greater amount of force is
said to be required to move the particle (Meyertholen, 2007). With the same amount of
energy, a smaller particle can be pushed faster than a larger particle. Thus, the
hypothesis of the study is that the rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the size of
the particle. That is, a smaller particle will diffuse faster than a larger one.

The validity that the molecular weight of a substance has an effect on its rate of
diffusion was derived from the glass tube set-up. Two cotton balls of identical sizes
were moistened with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ammonium hydroxide (NH
4
OH) which
were placed simultaneously in each end of the glass tubing. The molecular weight of
HCl (36.4611 g/mole) is larger compared to the value of the molecular weight of NH
4
OH
(35.0459 g/mole) and both react to form ammonium chloride (NH
4
Cl), a solid product,
4

which make the two substances suitable for comparison on which substance diffuses
faster inside the glass tube.

The agar-water gel test was used to assess and verify the effect of the molecular
weight on the rate of diffusion of different substances. The set up involved the
introduction of one drop of potassium permanganate (KMnO
4
), potassium dichromate
(K
2
Cr
2
O
7
), and methylene blue in three different wells on a petri dish with agar-water
gel. The three substances are dyes and possess different colors which make them
easily identifiable and suitable for measurement of the diameter of the drops within a
period of 30 minutes.

This study aimed to assess the influence of molecular weight on the rate of
diffusion of potassium permanganate (KMnO
4
), potassium dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
) and
methylene blue with respect to time via the water-agar gel test.

Specifically, it aimed to:
1. to identify the factors that could possibly affect the rate of diffusion of
substances; and
2. to explain the effect of molecular weight on the rate of diffusion of
substances

The study was conducted at the Ecology Laboratory of the College of Science
and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Mindanao Campus, Davao City on
January 24, 2011.
5

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Glass Tube Set Up

(1) A 30 cm glass tube was placed on a leveled iron stand, held in place by iron
clamps, as shown in Fig 1 below. (2) Two cotton plugs soaked in hydrochloric acid
(HCl) and ammonium hydroxide (NH
4
OH) were introduced simultaneously to the two
separate ends of the tube. (3) Three set ups were assembled, two as replicates of the
first. After some time, it was observed that a white smoke inside the tube appeared and
marked its position.


Fig 1. Glass tube test set-up.

The distances (in cm) from the HCl and NH
4
OH ends of the glass tubes to the
solid ring were measured and recorded. The average distance per substance was
6

calculated by taking the measurements of the distances from the end where the
substance was introduced to the point where the solid ring formed in each glass tube
and dividing it by the total number of rings formed in the three trials. A table comparing
the ratios of the measurements of the end-to-ring and total distances was plotted and
analyzed.

Water Agar-Gel Set-Up

A petri dish containing water-agar gel with three wells was used as a medium of
diffusion. Three solutions of different molecular weight were used; potassium
permanganate (KMNO
4
), a red solution with a molecular weight of 158 g/mole,
potassium dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
), a yellow solution with a molecular weight of 294
g/mole, and methylene blue, a blue solution with a molecular weight of 374 g/mole. A
drop of each solution was introduced simultaneously to three separate wells on the gel.
The diameter (in mm) of each colored area of each solution at time = 0 minutes was
recorded.

Fig 2. Water-agar gel test set-up.
K
2
Cr
2
O
7

KMNO
4

methylene blue
7

The measurement of the diameter of each colored area was recorded at a
regular three minute interval for thirty minutes. The average rate of diffusion (in
mm/min.) was calculated by averaging the computed partial rate values. The partial rate
of diffusion is calculated by using the formula:
(

where d
i
= diameter of colored area at a given time
d
i-t
= diameter of colored area immediately before d
i

t
i
= time when d
i
was measured
t
i-t
= time immediately before t
i


All computed values were tabulated and the mean of the computed partial rates
of each substance was calculated. The average rate of diffusion of each substance
against molecular weight was plotted. Partial rates of each substance at a specific time
were plotted for analysis and interpretation.








8

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 shows the distances of the smoke ring from the hydrochloric acid (HCl)
and the ammonium hydroxide (NH
4
OH) introduced to each sides of the glass tube. This
smoke is ammonium chloride (NH
4
Cl), the product formed between the reaction of
NH
4
OH and HCl. It was observed that the distance of the smoke ring was significantly
closer to the HCl side of the glass tube than the ammonium side, ranging from 9 to 11.3
centimeters as opposed to the distance measured from the NH
4
OH side which ranges
from 21 to 28.5 centimeters.

Computing for the average distances of the HCl-to-ring and NH
4
OH-to-ring
values, the HCl side has a lesser value (10.8 cm) than the NH
4
OH side (25.8 cm). This
means that the site of the initial reaction occurred nearer the HCl.

Hydrochloric acid has a molecular weight of 36.4611 grams per mole (g/mol)
while ammonium hydroxide has a molecular weight of 35.0459 g/mol. HCl has a heavier
molecular weight which means it should diffuse at a slower rate compared to NH
4
OH, as
observed in the experiment. Since NH
4
OH diffused at a faster rate, it reached the HCl
side faster than HCl reaching the NH
4
OH side of the glass tube. This resulted in the
formation of the smoke ring as the first indication that the NH
4
OH molecules have met
and reacted with the HCl molecules coming from the opposite side of the tube at a point
on the glass tube nearer the side of the HCl.

9


Table 1. Distance of the smoke ring from the hydrochloric acid and ammonium
hydroxide to the sides of each glass tube.
Trial
Distance (cm)
(d)
Total
distance
(D)
Ratio
d
HCl
d
NH3

d
HCl

D
d
NH3

D
NH
3

HCl
1 9 31 40 cm 0.225 0.775 3.44
2 12 28 40 cm 0.300 0.700 2.33
3 11.3 28.5 39.8 cm 0.284 0.716 2.52
Average 10.8 25.8 39.9 cm 0.270 0.730 2.39


Based on the above stated data, we could deduce that the measured rates of
diffusion of a series of molecules are proportional to the molecular weights of diffusing
substances. The hypothesis If the molecular weight affects the rate of diffusion of
substances, then the higher the molecular weight, the slower the diffusion was tested
on the next experiment.


Fig 3. Potassium permanganate (KMnO
4
), potassium dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
)
and methylene blue drops at 0 minutes.


K
2
Cr
2
O
7

KMNO
4

methylene blue
10



Fig 4. Potassium permanganate (KMnO
4
), potassium dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
)
and methylene blue drops after 30 minutes.



Concerning the water-agar gel experiment (Figs 3 and 4) using the substances
Potassium permanganate (KMnO
4
), potassium dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
) and methylene
blue, a clearer relationship seemed to emerge when the average rate of diffusion of
each substance was computed and then graphed.

In Table 2, results showed that after 30 minutes, potassium permanganate
(KMnO
4
), with a molecular weight of 158 g/mole, obtained the smallest diameter (6.273
mm) than the other two substances, potassium dichromate (12.545 mm), which had the
largest diameter, and methylene blue (8.205 mm). The observation showed
disagreement with the aforementioned hypothesis since we found no substance
supporting the theory increase in molecular weight means a decrease in diameter of
area of coloration.

K
2
Cr
2
O
7

KMNO
4

methylene blue
11

Table 2. Diameter of potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate, and
Methylene blue drops on water-agar gel at three minute intervals for 30
minutes.
Time
(minute)
Diameter (mm)
Potassium
permanganate
(MW 158 g/mole)
Potassium
dichromate
(MW 294 g/mole)
Methylene
Blue
(MW 374 g/mole)
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
6
6
6
6.25
6.25
6.25
6.25
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.5
6
6
7
8
9
12
14
15
17
21
23
6
6
6
6
6.25
7
8
9
11
12
13
Average 6.273 12.545 8.205




In Table 3, as time increases, the partial rate of diffusion of each substance
generally decreases. The relationship of the partial rate of diffusion of substances was
plotted against the time elapsed as shown in Fig 5. Within the 30-minute observation,
potassium dichromate had the highest average rate of diffusion at the rate of 0.533
mm/min., followed by methylene blue (0.233 mm/min.) and potassium permanganate
(0.017 mm/min.). This was presented through a bar graph in Fig 6, showing the
average rate of diffusion against the molecular weight of substances.




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Table 3. Partial rate of diffusion of potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate,
and methylene blue at three minute intervals for 30 minutes.
Time elapsed
(minute)
Partial rates of diffusion (mm/min.)
Potassium
permanganate
(MW 158 g/mole)
Potassium
dichromate
(MW 294 g/mole)
Methylene
Blue
(MW 374 g/mole)
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
0
0
0.083
0
0
0
0.083
0
0
0
0
0.333
0.333
0.333
1
0.667
0.333
0.667
1
0.667
0
0
0
0.083
0.25
0.333
0.333
0.667
0.333
0.333
Average rate
of diffusion
(mm/min.)
0.017 0.533 0.233




Fig 5. A line graph showing the partial rates of diffusion of potassium permanganate
(KMnO
4
), potassium dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
) and methylene blue against. the time
elapsed.

0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
P
a
r
t
i
a
l

R
a
t
e

o
f

D
i
f
f
u
s
i
o
n


(
m
m
/
m
i
n
)

Time Ellapsed (min)
Potassium permanganate
Potasium dichromate
Methylene Blue
13


Fig 6. A graph showing the average rate of diffusion of potassium permanganate
(KMnO
4
), potassium dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
) and methylene blue vs. their
molecular weight.



Going against the formulated hypothesis, our experiment showed some sort of
inconsistency with our above mentioned hypothesis on the first experiment. According
to Chang, the rate of diffusion of a substance is affected by its molecular weight. As the
molecular weight increases, the rate of diffusion is generally low. This is because the
larger the size of a particle, a greater amount of force, in this case, thermal energy is
required to move the particle (Chang, 1998). Conversely, our experiment showed no
substance (neither of the three substance introduced in the water agar-gel) to support
the aforementioned hypothesis on the first experiment.

It may be hard to admit but this inconsistency maybe due to some human errors
that the group made upon the conduct of the experiment: (a) unequal amount of
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
Potassium
permanganate
(158 g/mole)
Potassium dichromate
(294 g/mole)
Methylene Blue
(374 g/mole)
A
v
e
r
a
g
e

R
t
a
e

o
f

D
i
f
f
u
s
i
o
n

(
m
m
/
m
i
n
)

Molecular Weight (g/mole)
14

substances dropped on the water-agar gel, and (b) accidentally the water-agar gel was
moved and transferred from one place-to-another.

Some factors may have affected the rate of diffusion of the substances in the
experiment which may have led to inaccurate results. Such factors may include but are
not limited to inconsistent temperatures and concentrations, the type of medium used,
or handling and execution of the experiment.

















15

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The effect of molecular weight and the rate of diffusion were determined using
the water-agar gel set-up. One drop of potassium permanganate (KMnO
4
), potassium
dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
) and methylene blue were simultaneously placed on individual
wells on the agar. The diameter of the colored areas were measured and recorded at
regular three minute intervals for 30 minutes.

Results showed that potassium permanganate produced the smallest diameter at
6.2mm, as compared to potassium dichromate which produced the largest diameter at
12.545mm, followed by methylene with a diameter of 8.205mm. Potassium
permanganate diffused the slowest with the lowest average rate of diffusion at 0.017
mm/min. as compared to potassium dichromate (0.533mm/min.) and methylene blue
(0.233 mm/min.).

Conversely, our experiment showed no substance to support our aforementioned
hypothesis. This may be due to human error or to a number of possible reasons.
However, these speculations need to be validated by further experiments. There are
other factors which may affect the rate of diffusion. Such factors may include varied
temperatures, different amounts of substance, the type of medium used, or handling
and execution of the experiment. It is recommended that the same test should be
performed in a well isolated system, free of other factors which may affect the rate of
diffusion other than the controlled variable.
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LITERATURE CITED


Chang, R. 1998. Chemistry. 6
th
ed. Boston: James M. Smith.
Everett, G.W and G.W. Everett, Jr. (n.d.). Diffusion of Gases and Grahams Law.
Retrieved Aug. 14, 2011 from http://www.cerlabs.com/experiments/
1087540412X.pdf

Meyertholen, E. (n.d.) Diffusion. Retrieved Aug. 14, 2011 from http://www.austincc.edu/
~emeyerth/diffuse2.htm

Nave, R. 2008. Diffusion. Retrieved Aug. 14, 2011 from http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/kinetic/diffus.html

Weiss, G. 1994. Aspects and Applications of the Random Walk. Amsterdam,
Netherlands: North-Holla

Duka, IMA and Diaz, MGQ (n.d.) Biology I Laboratory Manual: An Investigative
Approach 9
th
Edition. UP Los Baos, College, Laguna, Philippines. 2009