Exploratory Activity: Factors Affecting Diffusion

Introduction: Molecules are in constant random motion. If molecules of one

type are concentrated in one area of a container, they will move around until
they are evenly distributed throughout the container. In this investigation you
will observe the conditions that affect the rate at which various substances
diffuse.

Part 1: Temperature and the Rate of Diffusion

Materials: Finger bowls (3), polar-coordinate graph paper (3), potassium
permanganate (KMnO4) crystals, forceps, watch or clock, water (hot, cold, and
room temperature).

Methods: Fill one of the finger bowls about half-full with cold water. Fill
another about half-full with room-temperature water, and the third about half-
full with hot water. Record the temperature of each in the data table. Center
each of the finger bowls on a piece of the graph paper. Using the forceps, place
one crystal of KMnO4 in the center of each finger bowl. Record the time. Make
sure that this lines up with the center of the graph paper. Be careful not to touch
the KMnO4 as it can be toxic.

After five minutes, record the farthest distance that the KMnO4 has traveled.
Wait another five minutes, and again record the farthest distance that the
KMnO4 has traveled. Wait another five minutes and repeat the process. Record
any observations concerning the color, intensity, or shape of the colored region.
Pour the water into the designated waste container, rinse the dishes with water,
and put them away.

Part 2: Molecular Size and the Rate of Diffusion

Materials: Glass tube (0.5 m x 1 cm), cotton balls, plastic dropping bottles
with 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and 1 M ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH),
meter stick.

Methods: Make sure that the glass tube is clean and dry. Place a small piece of
the cotton ball in each end of the tube. Make sure that it completely fills the end
of the tube, but do not stuff it too full. Lay the tube flat on the table. Put a paper
towel under each end of the tube.
Methods (continued): Obtain the dropping bottles with the HCl and NH4OH.
Be very careful not to spill either of these materials, as they can cause severe
burns and will eat holes in clothing, books, etc. If you spill some of it on
yourself or another person, quickly wash it off with lots of water and inform the
teacher.

With your partner, simultaneously place ten drops of HCl on the cotton at one
end of the tube and ten drops of NH4OH on the cotton at the other end of the
tube. Observe the tube until you see a faint white ring form on the inside of the
tube.

Measure the distance from each end of the tube to the white ring, and record
your data in a data table. Record the results obtained by the other members of
the class in the same data table. Rinse out the tube with water, dispose of the
cotton in the designated container, and put the remaining materials away.

Observations:

Part 1: Temperature and the Rate of Diffusion

Prepare a data table in which to record your results. You should have three rows
(one for each temperature), and five columns in which to record the initial
water temperature, the final water temperature, the distance that the KMnO4
diffused during each five-minute period.

Prepare a histogram (bar graph) to show the maximum distance traveled by the
KMnO4 at each temperature in the fifteen-minute period.

Part 2: Molecular Size and the Rate of Diffusion

Record the distance from each end of the tube to the center of the white ring.

Conclusions:

1. At which temperature did the KMnO4 travel the farthest during the
fifteen-minute period?
2. The rate of diffusion is defined as the distance divided by the time.
Calculate the rate of diffusion for each temperature. Based on your
calculations, how does the temperature of a system affect the rate of
diffusion?

3. What causes this effect?

4. Which of the two molecules, NH4OH or HCl, traveled farthest in the

tube?

5. Which of the two molecules diffused the fastest through the tube?

6. Which of the two molecules do you think is the heaviest (has the greatest
mass)? Explain your answer.