DIFFUSION LAB

TITLE Diffusion
To investigate the effect temperature has on the rate of diffusion.
AIM

APPARATUS 1. Clear plastic cups

AND 2. Measuring Spoon (1/4 teaspoon)
MATERIALS 3. Measuring cup
4. Stop clock (phone)
5. Tap water.
6. Food dye – liquid
7. Kettle

METHOD 1. Label cups A and B

2. Kettle was filled with tap water and heated to boiling.
3. Using the measuring cup, 200ml of hot water was poured from the kettle.
4. The hot water was poured into cup A.
5. Using the measuring cup, 200ml of cold water (tap water chilled in refrigerator
for approximately 30 minutes) was poured into Cup B.
6. Less than a quarter teaspoon of liquid dye was added to each cup.
7. The timer on stop clock was started.
8. Observations were made and timer stopped when colour was evenly
distributed in both cups.
9. Results were recorded.

Drawing/ Include a line drawing showing the set-up of the apparatus (See how to draw apparatus
Diagram section). * Except for drawing labs of course
RESULTS • See table below
• This can be a number of the following:
• A drawing(s) of what you observed (drawing labs)
• A table where you wrote down your data (responding variable)
• A graph that you plotted
• NOTE – All tables and graphs must have a TITLE above it describing what is
contained within.
DISCUSSION Diffusion can be defined as the movement of particles from an area of high
(USE concentration to an area of lower concentration. Diffusion is a passive process and
PARAGRAPHS) does not require energy and occurs on its own. Diffusion occurs with both gases and
liquids.
The main purpose of this investigation was to observe the effect different temperatures
of water has on diffusion rate using liquid dye.
From the results, it was seen that the liquid dye distributed itself evenly in 34 seconds
in Cup A which had hot water. While Cup B took 2 minutes and 13 seconds. Cup B had
cold water.
From this experiment it was observed that diffusion occurred faster in the hot water
than in the cold water.

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This is because in the hot water, the water molecules were moving faster, as they
gained energy from being heated. As the dye was added, it was able to be mixed at a
faster rate than the cold water. This is probably why Cup A has a faster rate of diffusion
than Cup B. In Cup B there was cold water, and the water molecules would not be
moving as fast as in Cup A. Therefore, it would take longer.
LIMITATIONS Temperature of the water could have been affected during the experiment as it was
carried out in the kitchen where the room temperature could not have been
controlled.
PRECAUTIONS 1. A clean measuring cup was used.
2. The same volume of water was used for both cups.
SOURCE OF 1. A quarter teaspoon was used to measure the liquid dye and therefore it is not a
ERROR piece of scientific equipment. One cup could have gotten slightly more/less dye
than the other.
CONCLUSION The effect of temperature on the rate of diffusion was investigated using hot and
cold water with the hot water having a faster rate of diffusion than the cold water.

DIAGRAM

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Diagram showing how materials were set up during the experiment.

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RESULTS:

TITLE: Table illustrating results from experiment

Cup A Cup B
Time taken
34 seconds 2 minutes and 13 seconds

When the dye was dropped into
Observations the cup, the red colour spread
out quickly. The colour was
evenly distributed very fast. The
entire cup turned red.
When the dye was dropped into
the cup, the red colour did not
spread quickly. The dye looked
as if it was suspended in the
water. After some time, the
colour started to spread and
was eventually evenly
distributed in the cup.

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