NPTEL Online Certification Course

Mass Transfer Operations I

Assignment 2: Detailed Solution
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

Note: Question 1 carry 9 marks and question 2 to 7 carries 3.5 marks.

1. Molecules of hydrogen chloride (HCl) diffuse through a thin, static film of water 2.0 mm
thick at 10°C. The concentration of HCl at one boundary of the film is 16% w/w HCl (density
= 1060.7 kg/m3), and at the other boundary is 9.0% w/w HCl (density = 1030.3 kg/m3). The
diffusion coefficient of HCl in water is 2.5´10-9 m2/s. Assuming steady state and one
boundary impermeable to water, the flux of HCl would be___________×10-6 kmol/m2s.

Ans: 2.0 3.5

Solution
The exact formula for diffusion of A through a stagnant layer of liquid B in mole fractions
is:

The molecular weights are MHCl =36.5 and Mwater = 18 kg/kmol:

The molecular weights of the two solutions can now be found as follows:
1 kmol of solution at point 1 has (0.086 36.5) = 3.139 kg of HCl
1 kmol of solution at point 1 has (0.91 18) = 16.38 kg of H2O
1 kmol at point 1 weights (16.38+3.139) = 19.519 kg
M1 = 19.519 kg/kmol
1 kmol of solution at point 2 has (0.0465 36.5) = 1.697 kg of HCl
1 kmol of solution at point 2 has (0.953 18) = 17.154 kg of H2O
1 kmol at point 2 weighs (17.46 + 1.095) = 18.851 kg
M2 = 18.851 kg/kmol
 =54.499

i.e. flux is 2.8 10-6 kmol/m2s

2 The diffusivity (D) in a binary gas mixture of non- polar and non- reacting is related to the
temperature (T) as
(a) D T
(b) D T3/2
(c) D T2/3
(d) D 1/T
Ans: (b)

3. The diffusivity of a binary gas mixture of non- polar and non- reaction system is proportional
to
(a) p
(b) p-1
(c) p2
(d) p1.5
Ans: (b) p-1

4. The unit of diffusion coefficient is

(a) m2/s
(b) m/s
(c) mole/(m2.s)
(d) none of these
Ans: (a) m2/s

5. Figure shows equimolal diffusion between species B and C. Identify the correct molar
diffusion rate

a) N b = m c/M b
b) N b = m b/M b
c) N c = m b/M b
d) N c = m b/M c

Answer: (b) N b = m b/M b

Explanation: Equimolal diffusion between species B and C of a binary gas system implies that each
molecule of component B is replaced by each molecule of constituent C.
6. The mass transfer coefficient (kL) and diffusivity (D) are related according to penetration
theory as
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Ans: (b)

7. The binary diffusivity in liquids is of the order of

(a) 10-5 cm2/sec
(b) 10-5 m2/sec
(c) 10-5 mm2/sec
(d) 10-5 ft2/sec

Ans: (a) 10-5 cm2/sec