ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I take this opportunity to thank all those who had helped me to

successfully complete this project .First of all I would like to thank the
almighty for enabling me to do my work sincerely, and then I thank our
Principal Mrs. Smitha. I sincerely thank my chemistry teacher Miss Biji
jyothibas for her help and suggestions. I thank our lab assistant for his
help and cooperation.

I also thank my parents for their support. Last but not the least, I thank
my beloved friends for their cooperation and suggestions.

With gratitude

Sruthi.S

1
 INDEX

S.NO CONTENT PAGE NO

1 OBJECTIVE 3

2 INTRODUCTION 4-7

3 THEORY 8-9

4 NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE 10-11

5 EXPERIMENT-1 12-14

6 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

7 RESULT

8 EXPERIMENT-2 15-17

9 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

10 RESULT

11 REFERENCE 18

2
OBJECTIVE
To study the diffusion of solids in liquid.

3
INTRODUCTION
When substances are brought in contact with each other they intermix,
this property is known as Diffusion. This property of diffusion takes
place very rapidly in case of gases and to a lesser extent in case of
liquids, whereas solids do not show this process of diffusion with each
other. But what we can observe in case of solids is that the diffusion of
solids in liquids takes place at a very slow rate.

In chemistry and materials science, diffusion refers to the movement of

fluid molecules in porous solids. Molecular diffusion occurs when the
collision with another molecule is more likely than the collision with the
pore walls. Under such conditions, the diffusivity is similar to that in a
non-confined space and is proportional to the mean free path.
The word diffusion derives from the Latin word, diffundere , which
means "to spread out.”

Pioneers and Cornerstones of Diffusion

 It was Robert Brown who discovered the random moment of

particles of matter.
 In 1829, the Scottish physical chemist Thomas Graham first
quantified diffusion behavior before the idea of atoms and
molecules was widely established
 The first systematic studies of diffusion in gases were probably
performed by the Scottish chemist Thomas Graham (1805 – 1869).

 Sir William Chandler Roberts Austen reported the first clear

experimental evidence for solid-state diffusion.
 Roberts-Austen observed a temperature dependence of diffusion
4
If a solid is kept in contact with an excess of solvent in which it is
soluble, some portion of the solid gets dissolved. We know that this
process is known as dissolution of a solid in liquid and this process has
taken place due to the diffusion of solid particles into liquid.

Some particles are dissolved in a glass of water .At first ,the particles
are all near one top corner of the glass .If the particles randomly move
around (“diffuse”)in the water ,they eventually become distributed
randomly and uniformly from an area of high concentration to an area
of low concentration.

5
Types of diffusion

Diffusions are of 3 types

 Simple diffusion is when ions or molecules diffuse from an area of high
concentration to an area of low concentration.

Examples of simple diffusion are the gaseous exchange that occurs during
photosynthesis, and the evaporation of water in plants during transpiration.

Molecular diffusion occurs in gases, liquids, and solids; both diffusion of

molecules of extraneous substances (impurities) and self-diffusion are
observed. Molecular diffusion occurs as a result of thermal motion of
the molecules.
 In osmosis, the particles moving are water molecules. They move from a
region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute
concentration, across a semi-permeable membrane.
For example - If water and salt solution are separated by a semi-
permeable membrane, then water molecules flow to the region of salt
solution as it has a higher solute (salt) content
.
 Facilitated diffusion is the movement of hydrophilic molecules or ions
across the plasma membrane. The difference is, the diffusion is
facilitated by transport proteins (i.e. carrier proteins or pore proteins).

6
Rate of diffusion depends upon:
Many factors influence the rate at which diffusion takes place, including
medium through with a substance diffusing, the size of molecules
diffusing, the temperature of the solution, and the distance travelled
between collisions. While diffusion go forward in the presence of a
concentration gradient substance, several factors affect the rate of
diffusion,
• Temperature: As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the
particles increases so the speed of particles also increases which thus
increases the rate of diffusion.
• Size of the particle: As the size of particle increases, rateof diffusion
decreases.
• Mass of the particle: As the mass of the particle increases the rate of
diffusion decreases, as the particles become less mobile
There are a few other factors that affect the process of diffusion,
which individually and collectively alters the rate and extent of
diffusion. These factors includes
• Area of interaction
• The steepness of the concentration gradient.
Examples of Diffusion
• A tea bag immersed in a cup of hot water will diffuse into the water
and change its colour.
• A spray of perfume or room freshener will get diffused Into the air by
which we can sense the odour.
• Sugar gets dissolved evenly and sweetens the water without having to
stir it.
7
THEORY
Molecules of solute are in constant random motion due to the Collision
between molecules of solute and that of the solvent. It is this physical
interaction between solute-solvent particles that leads to diffusion. The
particles of liquid have enough movement because of kinetic energy for
diffusion.
When a solid is placed in contact with a solvent in which it is soluble, it
starts dissolving and gradually goes into solution .This process of
dissolution of a solid in a liquid is called diffusion.
When one crystal of KMnO4 is placed at the bottom of a beaker
containing water, the water at the bottom of the beaker turns coloured
.In the beginning the water at the upper part remains colourless .As
time passes the coloured solution goes on gaining height and ultimately
the whole solution become coloured. This is because the molecules of
the solute and the solvent tend to intermix and give a solution of
uniform concentration. This spontaneous intermixing of the solute and
solvent molecules to form homogenous solution is called diffusion of
solids in liquids. Diffusion is responsible for mass transfer.

8
The particles of Potassium permanganate collide with the particles of
water because of their continuous movement. And finally they are
mixed together because of diffusion.

The spreading of purple colour of potassium permanganate into water,

on its own is due to the diffusion of potassium permanganate particles
into water.

KMnO4(s) K+ + MnO4-

NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE

9
Diffusion is an important process, which is involved in the different life
processes. It is the net movement of particles, ions, molecules, solution,
etc. In all living species, diffusion plays an important role in the
movement of the molecules during the metabolic process in the cells.
The concept of diffusion is widely used and is of fundamental
importance in many fields, including physics (particle diffusion),
chemistry, and biology.
This project aims at the factors affecting diffusion. The project includes
simple experiments to study the dependence of size of particles and
temperature on diffusion .

EXPERIMENT-1

10
AIM
To study the effect of temperature on the rate of diffusion of solids In
liquids.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
Potassium permanganate (KMnO4),three 100 mL beakers, watch glass,
wire gauge, burner, tripod stand, thermometer, stop watch.
PROCEDURE
 Take five gram of potassium permanganate each in three beakers.
 Pour 100 mL of distilled water slowly in one of the beakers.
 Cover this beaker with a watch glass.
 Pour 100 mL of cold water in a second beaker slowly.
 Place a third beaker containing 100 mL of water on a tripod
 Stand for heating.
 Observe the diffusion process which begins in all the beakers.
 Record the time taken for the dissolution of potassium
permanganate in all the three cases.
OBSERVATION

S. No Beaker Temperature Time taken

1 A 15°C 2min 31sec

2 B 27°C 1min 11sec
3 C 70°C 10sec

11
 A B

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

The rate of diffusion varies directly with temperature. As the
temperature increases, rate of diffusion of KMnO4 in water also
increases.

As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the particles increases,

so the speed of particles also increases which thus increases the rate of
diffusion.

12
RESULT
The rate of diffusion of potassium permanganate in water is observed
in the order as given below:
Beaker C > Beaker B > Beaker A

13
EXPERIMENT-2
AIM
To study the effect of size of particles on the rate of diffusion of Solids
in liquids.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
Graduated 100 mL measuring cylinders, Potassium permanganate
(KMnO4) crystals of different sizes, stop watch.
PROCEDURE
 Add 50 mL of water to each of the three cylinders.
 Take five gram each of big size, medium size, and small size
crystals of KMnO4 and add them separately in three cylinders.

14
  Allow to them to stand for some time.
 Note the time taken for purple colour to reach any fixed mark in
each of the cylinders and note the observations.

OBSERVATIONS
S.No Beaker Size of crystal Time taken to
diffuse
1 A Small 1min 10 sec
2 B Medium 2min
3 C Large 3min 8sec

15
A B

C
16
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Smaller particles undergo diffusion more quickly than bigger Particles.
As the mass increases, the rate of Diffusion decreases.

Heavier particles will move more slowly and so will have a slower rate
of diffusion. Smaller particles on the other hand will diffuse faster
because they can move faster in the solvent

More kinetic energy is needed to move a large molecule at the sme

speed as the small molecule.

17
RESULT
The rate of diffusion of potassium permanganate in water is in the
order as given below:
Beaker A > Beaker B > Beaker C

18
REFERENCE
 https://www.wikipedia.org/
 http://chemistryworkshopjr.weebly.com
 www.encyclopedia.com
 https://www.britannica.com
 https://www.sciencedirect.com

19