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To study the

diffusion of
solids in liquids

INDEX
Certificate
Acknowledgement
Aim
Introduction
Factors affecting diffusion
Experiments
Conclusion

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my sincere gratitude


to my Chemistry mentor Mr. Mehta, for his
vital support, guidance and encouragement
- without which this project would not have
come forth. I would also like to express my
gratitude to the other staffs of the
Department of Chemistry for their support
during the making of this project.
- KESHAV

AIM

TO STUDY THE DIFFUSSION OF SOLIDS IN


LIQUIDS

Introduction
When substances are brought in
contact with each other, they
intermingle with each other. This
phenomenon
is
known
as
Molecular diffusion. Molecular
diffusion, often called simply
diffusion, is a net transport of
molecules from a region of higher
concentration to one of lower
concentration
by
random
molecular motion. The result of
diffusion is a gradual mixing of
material. In a phase with uniform
temperature, absent external net
forces acting on the particles, the
diffusion process will eventually

result in complete mixing or a


state of equilibrium.
Diffusion in the most general
state refers to the random,
thermal motion of particles. The
first thing to remember about
diffusion is that all movement is
driven by heat energy
Diffusion takes place very rapidly
in case of gases, to a lesser
extent in case of liquids, and not
at all in the case of solids.
However, diffusion of solids in
liquids does take place at a very
slow rate.

Molecules
of
solute
are
in
constant random motion , called
Brownian movement 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 atoms
(and
molecules
and
other
microscopic
particles)
move
every which way, constantly
bumping into each other and
changing direction
If a solid is kept in contact with
excess of solvent in which it is
soluble, some portion of the solid
gets dissolved. This process is
known as dissolution of a solid in
liquid.

FACTORS AFFECTING DIFFUSSION


Temperature:
As
temperature
increases, the kinetic energy of the
particles increases. Thus, the speed of
particles also increases, the amount
of energy available for diffusion is
increased. This means that a given
particle will move faster at a higher
temperature. Thus the rate of
diffusion will be faster as the
temperature increases.
Size of the particle: As the size
of particle increases, rate of diffusion
decreases. The source of energy for
the movement of particles in diffusion
is the heat in the environment. At a
given temperature, a smaller particle
(molecule) moves faster than a larger
one. Thus 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.
Mass of the particle: As the mass
of the particle increases, the rate of
diffusion decreases because the
speed of particle decreases and hence
the kinetic energy of the particle
decreases so the particle becomes
less mobile. So as the mass increases
the rate of diffusion decreases

Experiment 1
Aim
To study diffusion when copper sulphate is
brought in contact with water (liquid).

Requirements
Copper
beaker

sulphate

(CuSO4)

crystals,

100

mL

Procedure
Take about two grams of copper
sulphate crystals in 100 mL beaker.
Add about 50 mL of water and allow
it to stand for few minutes.

Note the development of blue colour


in water.
Allow to stand undisturbed further
till it is observed that all copper
sulphate disappears.
Note the blue colour change in water.
CONCLUSION - When solids such as copper
sulphate are brought in contact with
liquids such as water, diffusion takes place.
place

Experiment 2
Aim
To study the effect of temperature on the
rate of diffusion of solids in liquids.

Requirements
Copper sulphate (CuSO4) crystals, three
100 mL beakers, watch glass, wire gauge,
burner, tripod stand, thermometer, stop
watch.
watch.

Procedure
Take five gram of copper sulphate
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 time
taken by sol. For dissolution of CuSo4 in
all cases.
BEAKER

Temperature of

Time Taken to

1
2
3

Water

Diffuse

10 C
25 C
70 C

18 minutes
15 minutes
7 minutes

Conclusion:The rate of diffusion of copper sulphate in


water is in the order as given below:
Beaker 3 > Beaker 2 > Beaker 1
Faster diffusion will take place if the
surroundings are warmer. Increase in
temperature
means
an
increase
in
molecules' speed (kinetic energy). So the
molecules move faster and there will be
more spontaneous spreading of the
material which means that diffusion occurs
quicker.

Experiment 3
Aim
To study the effect of size of particles on
the rate of diffusion of solids in liquids.
Requirements

Graduated 100 mL measuring cylinders,


copper sulphate (CuSO4) 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, small size crystals of
copper
sulphate,
and
add
them
separately .

Allow to them to stand for some


time.

Note the time taken for blue colour


to reach any fixed mark in each case.
BEAKER

Crystal size

Time Taken to Diffuse

1.

Big

19 minutes

2.

Medium

13 minutes

3.

Small

5 minutes

Conclusion:- Smaller particles have larger


surface area. So the small particles of the third
beaker interact more with the water the
diffusion hence is fastest in third beaker

BibliographyBooks:
1)Chemistry (Part 1&2) Textbook for Class XII;
National Council of Educational Research and
Training

2) Encyclopedias

Websites:
1) Image Courtesy:
www.google.com/images
www.wikipedia.org

2) Source and other Information:


Wikipedia.org
Google.com

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