Part-3:Diffusion
Diffusion
The spreading out and mixing of a substance with another substance due to the motion
of its particles is called diffusion.
The diffusion of one substance into another substance goes on until a
uniform mixture is formed.
Example:
If we take a gas jar full of bromine vapours and invert another gas jar
containing air over it, then after some time, the red-brown vapours of
bromine spread out into the upper gas jar containing air as shown in the
figure.
In this way, the upper gas jar which contains colourless air in it, also turns
red-brown. This mixing is due to the diffusion of bromine vapour (or
bromine gas) into air. Air from the upper gas jar also diffuses into the lower
gas jar though we cannot see it.
➢Diffusion is a property of matter which is based on the motion (or
movements) of its particles.
➢Diffusion occurs in gases, liquids and solids. The diffusion is fastest
in gases because the particles in gases move very rapidly. The
diffusion is slowest in solids because the particles in solids do not
move much. The diffusion in liquids is, however, much faster than that
in solids.
➢The rate of diffusion increases on increasing the temperature of the
diffusing substance (by heating).
Reason: When the temperature of a substance is increased by
heating, its particles gain kinetic energy and move more rapidly. And
this increase in the speed of the particles of a substance increases
the rate of diffusion.
Note:
Diffusion tells us that the particles of matter are constantly moving.
Diffusion in Gases
Diffusion in gases is very fast. This is because the particles in gases move
very quickly in all directions.
The rate of diffusion of a gas, however, depends on its density. Light gases
diffuse faster than heavy gases.
Examples Of Diffusion of Gases
1.The smell of food being cooked in the kitchen reaches us even
from a considerable distance.
Reason: When food is cooked, some of the substances in food release
gases having the smell of food in them. The particles of these gases move
very quickly and mix up with air by diffusion. When the air containing these
gases reaches our nose, we get the smell of food being cooked in the
kitchen (even without entering the kitchen).
Note:
The smell of hot sizzling food reaches us even when we are at a
considerable distance but to get the smell of cold food, we have to go
close to it.
Reason: The rate of diffusion of hot gases (released by the hot sizzling
food) is much faster than the rate of diffusion of cold gases released by the
cold food. Particles of hot sizzling food possess large kinetic energy and
diffuse in air rapidly whereas particles of cold food possess less kinetic
energy and are not able to reach several metres apart.
2.When we light an incense stick (agarbatti) in a corner of our
room, its fragrance spreads in the whole room very quickly.
Reason:The fragrance of burning incense stick (or agarbatti) spreads all
around due to the diffusion of its smoke into the air. The particles of gases
produced by the burning of incense stick move rapidly in all directions.
They collide with the particles of air present in the room, mix with air and
reach every part of the room very quickly.
3.The smell of perfume spreads due to the diffusion of perfume
vapours into air.
Reason; When the bottle of perfume is opened, then the liquid perfume
quickly changes into vapour (or gas). The perfume vapours move very
rapidly in all directions in air, mix with the air particles and hence spread
with air in the whole room.
Note:
The leakage of cooking gas (LPG) in our homes is detected due to the
diffusion of a strong smelling substance (ethyl mercaptan) present in the
cooking gas into air.
Diffusion in Liquids
Diffusion in liquids is slower than that in gases. This is because the
particles in liquids move slowly as compared to the particles in gases.
Solids, liquids as well as gases can diffuse into liquids.
The rate of diffusion in liquids is much faster than that in solids because
the particles in a liquid move much more freely, and have greater spaces
between them as compared to particles in the solids.
Examples Of Diffusion in Liquids
1. If a crystal of potassium permanganate is placed at the bottom
of water in a beaker, then the purple colour of potassium
permanganate spreads into the whole water, slowly.
Reason: The spreading of purple colour of potassium permanganate into
water, on its own, is due to the diffusion of potassium permanganate
particles into water.
2. If a crystal of copper sulphate is placed at the bottom of water
in a beaker, then the blue colour of copper sulphate spreads into
the whole water, slowly.
Reason: The spreading of blue colour of copper sulphate into water, on its
own, is due to the diffusion of copper sulphate particles into water.
3. If a drop of ink is put into a beaker of water, then the colour of
ink spreads into the whole water of the beaker.
Reason: The spreading of ink in water, on its own, is due to the diffusion of
ink particles into water.
4.The carbon dioxide gas and oxygen gas present in air (or
atmosphere) ,which are essential for the survival of aquatic
plants and animals, diffuse into water (of ponds, lakes, rivers
and sea), and dissolve in it. The aquatic plants use the dissolved
carbon dioxide for preparing food by photosynthesis and aquatic animals
use the dissolved oxygen of water for breathing.
Diffusion in Solids
Diffusion in solids is a very, very slow process.
Reason:The particles in solids do not move from their fixed positions. The
particles of a solid only vibrate about their fixed positions. Due to lack of
appreciable movements in the particles of solids, the diffusion of solids in
solids is rare.
Examples Of Diffusion of Solids In Solids
1.If we write something on a blackboard and leave it uncleaned
for a considerable period of time (say, at least 10 to 15 days), we
will find that it becomes quite difficult to clean the blackboard
afterwards.
Reason: Some of the particles of chalk have diffused into the surface of
blackboard.
2.If two metal blocks are bound together tightly and kept
undisturbed for a few years, then the particles of one metal are
found to have diffused into the other metal.
Note:
Particles of matter move from a region of high concentration to a region of
low concentration in diffusion.
Q. Why do solids generally lack the property of diffusion?
Ans: This is because of the absence of kinetic energy in the particles of
solid state where the particles are very closely packed.
