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ABSTRACT
The effect of molecular weight on diffusion rate was determined
using two testsglass tube test and agar-water gel test. In the glass tube
setup, two cotton balls, one dipped with Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the
other with Ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) were inserted in both ends of
a two feet glass tube. The substance with the lighter molecular weight
value (NH4OH, MW = 35.0459 g/mol) diffused at a faster rate (dAve =
4.375 cm), resulting in the formation of a white smoke closer to the side of
the heavier substance (HCl, MW = 36.4611 g/mole; dAve = 22.125 cm). In
the other test, agar-water gel test, a petri dish filled with water-agar gel
containing three wells was used. A drop of Potassium permanganate
(KMnO4), Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and Methylene Blue were
simultaneously introduced in each well. Diameter in each colour area were
measured in millimetres at a regular three minute interval for thirty
minutes. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4)) having the smallest
molecular weight (MW= 158 g/mol) had the largest increase in diameter
(20 mm) and the fastest average diffusion rate of 0.433 (mm/min).
Methylene Blue which had the largest molecular weight had he smallest
increase in diameter (11 mm) and the slowest average diffusion rate of
0.133 (mm/min) . Thus, the higher the molecular weight, the slower the
rate of diffusion.

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INTRODUCTION
A substance in the gaseous or liquid state consists of molecules or atoms that are
independent, rapid, and random in motion. These molecules frequently collide with each
other and with the sides of the container. In a period of time, this movement results in a
uniform distribution of the molecules throughout the system. This process is called
diffusion (Everett and Everett, n.d.). Diffusion is the random movement of one liquid or
gas through another, from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration
(France, 2014).
According to Encarta Encyclopaedia (2009), diffusion of matter occurs most
rapidly in gases, more slowly in liquids, and most slowly in solids. The spreading of
odoriferous molecules (a smell) throughout a room is a common example of gaseous
diffusion. A solid may dissolve and diffuse through a liquid, as when a lump of sugar is
placed in a cup of water. This process is much slower than the diffusion of a gas; if the
water is not stirred, it may take weeks for the solution to become homogeneous. An
example of the slowest diffusion process, a solid diffusing into a solid, occurs when gold
is plated on copper. The gold will diffuse slowly into the surface of the copper; however,
diffusion of an appreciable amount of gold more than a microscopic distance normally
requires thousands of years.
While diffusion will go forward in the presence of a concentration gradient of a
substance, several factors affect the rate of diffusion: (1) Extent of the concentration
gradient: The greater the difference in concentration, the more rapid the diffusion. The
closer the distribution of the material gets to equilibrium, the slower the rate of diffusion

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becomes. (2) Mass of the molecules diffusing: Heavier molecules move more slowly;
therefore, they diffuse more slowly. The reverse is true for lighter molecules. (3)
Temperature: Higher temperatures increase the energy and therefore the movement of the
molecules, increasing the rate of diffusion. Lower temperatures decrease the energy of
the molecules, thus decreasing the rate of diffusion. (4) Solvent density: As the density of
a solvent increases, the rate of diffusion decreases. (5) Solubility: nonpolar or lipidsoluble materials pass through plasma membranes more easily than polar materials,
allowing a faster rate of diffusion. (6) Surface area and thickness of the plasma
membrane: Increased surface area increases the rate of diffusion, whereas a thicker
membrane reduces it. (7) Distance travelled: The greater the distance that a substance
must travel, the slower the rate of diffusion (Boundless, 2014).
During the glass tube test, it was observed that the white smoke formed near the
substance having the heavier molecular weight (HCL, MW= 36g/mol) than the substance
having the lighter molecular weight (NH4OH, MW=17g/mol). Thus the hypothesis that
the molecular weight of a substance is inversely proportional to its rate of diffusion was
formulated.
This study aimed to determine the effect of molecular weight on the rate of
diffusion with respect to a given time.
The study was conducted outside the College of Science and Mathematics,
University of the Philippines Mindanao on the 12th of February, 2015.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

In formulating and testing the hypothesis of the study, two test were
conducted: (1) glass tube test and; (2) agar-water gel test. The glass tube test wa used to
formulate the hypothesis while the agar-water gel test determined the falsity of the
hypothesis.
In the glass tube setup, a two feet glass tube was placed horizontally in a ring
stand, held on place by rubber bands. Two equal-sized cotton balls, one moistened with
hydrochloric acid while the other with ammonium hydroxide, were then plugged on the
separate ends of the glass tube. Four set ups were assembled. The location where the
white smoke (Ammonium chloride) formed inside the tube was then marked with the use
of a marker. The distances (in cm) from the HCl and NH4OH ends of the glass tubes to
the white smoke were recorded. Average distance per substance was calculated by taking
the measurements of the distances from the end where the substance was plugged to the
point where the white smoke was formed in each glass tube and dividing it by the total
number of rings formed in the four trials. The ratios of the measurements of the end-tosmoke and total distances was analysed and plotted.
In the agar-water gel test, a petri dish filled with water-agar gel containing 3 wells
was used as a medium of diffusion. Three solutions with different molecular weight and
colour were used; Potassium permanganate (KMnO4), a red solution with a molecular
weight of 158g/mol; Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), a yellow solution with amolecular
weight of 294 g/mol; and methylene blue, blue solution with a molecular weight of 374
g/mool. A drop of each prepared solution was simultaneously placed into each assigned
well. The petri dished was the covered to avoid acquiring external variables. Diameter (in

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mm) of each coloerd area of each substances were then recorded at a regular three minute
for thirty minutes (from zero minute to thirty minute). The average rate of diffusion (in
mm/min.) was calculated by averaging the computed partial rate values, wherein partial
rate of diffusion is calculated by using the formula:

Partial rate (rp) =

d id i1
t it i1

Where: di = diameter of colored area at a given time

di-t = diameter of colored area immediately before di
ti = time when di was measured
ti-t = time immediately before ti
All computed values were tabulated and the mean of the computed partial rates of
each substance was calculated. The average rate of diffusion of each substance against
molecular weight was graphed. Partial rates of each substance at a specific time were
plotted for analysis and interpretation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1.1 shows the distances between the three substances: hydrochloric acid;
ammonium chloride and; ammonium hydroxide during the glass tube test. As shown in
the table, white smoke, or the ammonium chloride, is nearer to the hydrochloric acid side
of the glass tube than to the side of the ammonium hydroxide. It is also observed that the

Page |6

NH4Cl-HCl average distance (dAve= 4.375 cm) is lesser than the NH4Cl-NH3 average
distance (dAve= 22.125 cm).

Table 1.1 Distance of white smoke to the hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide
sides from each end of the glass tube.
Trial

Distance (cm)

Total

(d)

distance
(D)

Ratio

HCL
3.5

NH3
25.5

29

dHCl
D
0.121

18

21

0.143

0.857

6.000

30

32

0.063

0.938

15.000

15

24

0.375

0.625

1.667

4.375

22.125

26.500

0.175

0.825

7.488

Average:

dNH3
D
0.879

NH3
HCl
7.286

Page |7

HCl has a heavier molecular weight (MW = 36.4611 g/mole) which means it
should diffuse at a slower rate compared to NH 4OH which has lighter molecular weight
(MW = 35.0459 g/mol), as observed in the experiment. Since NH 4OH diffused at a faster
rate, it reached the HCl side faster than HCl reaching the NH 4OH side of the glass tube.
This resulted in the formation of a white smoke of ammonium chloride (NH 4Cl), an
indicator that the NH4OH molecules have met and reacted with the HCl molecules
coming from the opposite side of the tube, at a point on the glass tube nearer the side of
the HCl.
Table 1.2 shows the changes in diameter (in mm) of Potassium permanganate
(KMnO4), Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and Methylene blue in every three minute
interval from the zero minute to the thirtieth minute which are illustrated in Figure1.1 and
Figure 1.2. The Table1.2 shows that by the end of the thirtieth minute, potassium
permanganate had the largest diameter of 20mm, followed up by potassium dichromate
with a diameter of 17 mm while methylene blue had the smallest diameter of 11 mm.
Partial rate of diffusion and the average rate of diffusion of the three solutions are
shown in Table 1.3. In Table 1.3, as time increases, partial rate of diffusion of each
substance varies, as illustrated in Figure 1.3. It is also observed that methylene blue with
heaviest molecular weight of 374 g/mol, had the slowest average rate of diffusion
(0.133mm/min) compared to the other two solutions, potassium dichromate (0.333

Page |8

mm/min) and potassium permanganate(0.433 mm/min), which had the fastest average
rate of diffusion.
As illustrated in Figure 1.4, potassium permanganate (KMnO 4) which has the
lightest molecular eight of 158 g/mol diffused fastest. It is followed by potassium
dichromate (K2Cr2O7), with a molecular weight greater than KMnO 4 but less than
methylene blue, which has a molecular weight of 374 g/mole. Observations show that as
the molecular weight of a substance increases, its rate of diffusion consequently decreases
and vice versa. Thus, the hypothesis that the molecular weight is inversely proportional to
the rate of diffusion of a substance is supported by the results of the experiment.
Some factors may have affected the rate of diffusion of the substances in the
experiment which may have led to inaccurate results. Such factors may include but are
not limited to inconsistent temperatures and concentrations, the type of medium used, or
handling and execution of the experiment.

Page |9

Table 1.2 Diameter of Potassium permanganate, Potassium dichromate, and Methylene

blue at three minute interval
Diameter (mm)
Time
(minute)
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30

Potassium
permanganate

Potassium
dichromate

Methylene
Blue

(MW 158)

(MW 294)

(MW 374)

7
10
14
15
16
17
17
18
20
20
20

7
11
12
13
13
14
15
16
16
17
17

7
9
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
11
11

Figure 1.1 Petri dish with KMnO4

(red), K2Cr2O7 (yellow), and
Methylene Blue (Blue) at zero
minute

Figure 2.2 Petri dish with KMnO4

(red), K2Cr2O7 (yellow), and
Methylene Blue (Blue) at
thirtieth minute

P a g e | 10

Table 1.3 Partial rate of diffusion of potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate, and
methylene blue at three minute intervals for 30 minutes and its mean
Partial rates of diffusion (mm/min)
Time elapsed
(minute)
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
Average rate
of diffusion
(mm/min)

Potassium
permanganate
(MW 158)
1.000
1.333
0.333
0.333
0.333
0.000
0.333
0.667
0.000
0.000

Potassium
dichromate
(MW 294)
1.333
0.333
0.333
0.000
0.333
0.333
0.333
0.000
0.333
0.000

Methylene
Blue
(MW 374)
0.667
0.333
0.000
0.000
0.333
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

0.433

0.333

0.133

P a g e | 11

1.400
1.200
1.000
0.800
Partial rate
of diffusion (mm/min) 0.600
0.400
0.200
0.000
3

12

15

18

21

24

27

30

Time elapsed (min)

Potassium permanganate (MW 158)
Methylene Blue (MW 374)

Potassium dichromate (MW 294)

Figure 1.3 A line graph showing the partial rates of diffusion of potassium permanganate
(KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and methylene blue vs. the time elapsed.

P a g e | 12

P a g e | 13

0.5
0.45

0.43

0.4
0.35
Potassium permanganate (MW 158)
0.3
Average rate
of diffusion 0.25
(mm/mi)
0.2
0.15

0.33
Potassium dichromate (MW 294)

0.13

Methylene Blue (MW 374)

0.1
0.05
0
Molecular Weight (g/mol)

P a g e | 14

Figure 1.4 A bar graph showing the average rate of diffusion of potassium permanganate
(KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and methylene blue vs. their molecular
weight.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The formulated hypothesis the molecular weight of a substance is inversely
proportional to its rate of diffusion was derived subsequent to the glass tube test in
which diffusion between hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide were observed and
compared. The effect of molecular weight on the rate of diffusion was determine in the
agar-water setup. One drop of potassium permanganate (KMnO 4), potassium dichromate
(K2Cr2O7) and methylene blue were simultaneously placed on individual wells on the
agar. The diameter of the colored areas were measured and recorded at regular three
minute intervals for thirty minutes.
Results showed that after thirty minutes, methylene blue produced the smallest
diameter (11 mm) compared potassium dichromate (17 mm) and potassium
permanganate (20mm), which had the largest diameter. Potassium permanganate which

P a g e | 15

had lightest molecular weight of 158 g/mol had the fastest average rate of diffusion
(0.433 mm/min) followed up by potassium dichromate having a molecular weight of 294
g/mol and an average rate of diffusion of 0.333 mm/min while methylene blue had
heaviest molecular weight of 374 g/mol and the slowest rate of diffusion of
0.133mm/min. thus the molecular weight of substance is inversely proportional to its rate
of diffusion. In addition, Chang, 1998, stated that the rate of diffusion of a substance is
affected by its molecular weight. As the molecular weight increases, the rate of diffusion
is generally low. This is because of the concept that the larger the size of a particle, a
greater amount of force, in this case, thermal energy is required to move the particle.
There are other factors which may affect the rate of diffusion. Such factors may
include varied temperatures, different amounts of substance, the type of medium used, or
handling and execution of the experiment. It is recommended that the same test should be
performed in a well isolated system, free of other factors which may affect the rate of
diffusion other than the controlled variable

LITERATURE CITED
Boundless. Diffusion. Boundless Biology. Boundless, 14 Nov. 2014.
<https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biologytextbook/structure-and-function-of-plasma-membranes-5/passive-transport65/diffusion-331-11468/> Accessed Feb.14, 2015
Chang, R. 1998. Chemistry. 6th ed. Boston: James M. Smith.
Everett, G.W and G.W. Everett, Jr. (n.d.). Diffusion of Gases and Grahams Law.
<http://www.cerlabs.com/experiments/.> Accessed Feb. 15,2015
France C. 2014.Elements, Compounds and Mixtures. <http://www.gcsescience.com/e16bromine-diffusion-air.htm> Accessed Feb. 14, 2015

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Redmond 2009. Encarta Encyclopaedia. Diffusion