The Effect Molecular Weight on the Rate of Diffusion of

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4), Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and

Methylene blue.

Anna Carmela Santoalla

Group 4 Sec.Y-3L

October 12, 2015

A scientific paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in General Biology 1

laboratory under Prof. Christia A. Guevara, 1st sem., 2015-2016
1

ABSTRACT
The relationship of molecular weight and time with the rate
of diffusion was determined using the glass rod test and the
agar-water gel test. In the glass rod test, two cotton balls,
moistened with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ammonium
hydroxide (NH4OH) were placed in both ends of the glass rod.
After several minutes, ammonium chloride (NH 4Cl) appeared as
white smoke. The distance measured from the cotton ball up to
the white smoke shows that NH3 has diffused faster than HCl.
For the agar-water gel test, a drop of Potassium permanganate
(KMnO4), Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and methylene blue
was placed into a petri dish of agar-water gel with three wells.
After measuring the diameter of the colored area every three
minutes for half an hour, it is shown that Potassium
permanganate has the fastest average rate of diffusion and
methylene blue has the slowest rate. The result of both tests
shows that substances with lower molecular weight diffuses
faster than substance with higher molecular weight.
INTRODUCTION
Molecules that are concentrated in an area tend to collide and distribute gradually
until they spread out evenly, and this movement of molecule from where it is more
concentrated to where it is less concentrated is called diffusion (Campbell, 1946).
Molecules can diffuse or move randomly in liquids or in gases (Capco and Yang 1966).
As shown by past experiments, the diffusion rate of a certain chlorinated
hydrocarbon or organic compound vary depending on the factors that may affect them.
(Howley, MacCraith, ODwyer, Kirwan and McLoughlin, 2003). These factors are the
substances molecular weight or particle size, the systems temperature, the different
substances concentration difference, the distance of diffusion, the surface area, and the
medium of diffusion. Heavier molecule moves more slowly than the lighter molecule
because greater force is needed to move large particles, therefore lighter molecules

diffuse faster at a certain temperature.(Meyertholen, n.d).

The effect of one of the factors, molecular weight of a substance, to the rate of
diffusion was observed in the experiment of using hydrochloric acid (HCl) with a
molecular weight of 36.46 g/mol and ammonium hydroxide (NH 4OH) with a molecular
weight of 35.05 g/mol. The two substances were used to moisten two cotton balls which
were plugged in each end of a glass rod in order to measure the distance of each cotton
from the ring of white smoke that will appear few minutes later. The distance measured
was then used to determine which of the substances have a higher rate of diffusion.
The effect of molecular weight in the rate of diffusion can also be observed
when a drop of potassium permanganate (MW=158g/mole), potassium dichromate
(MW= 294g/mol) and methylene blue (MW=374) is placed in a petri dish of a agar-water
gel. However, in this set-up the diameter of the colored area were the one measured to
determine the partial rate of diffusion.
Results showed that on the glass tube test, ammonia diffused faster, while on
the agar-water gel test, potassium permanganate diffused the fastest. (Duka, Diaz, Villa,
2009). Thus, the lower the molecular weight of a substance, the faster the diffusion and
vice-versa
This experiment, conducted on October 5, 2015 on the Institute of Biological
Sciences in the University of the Philippines Los Baos aimed to determine the effect of
molecular weight of substances on its rate of diffusion. The specific objectives were
1. to describe how the molecular weight affects the substances distance and rate of diffusion;
and
2. To conclude whether or not the molecular weight of a substance is indirectly proportional

to its rate of diffusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Glass rod set-up
A two feet glass rod was attached horizontally to a ring stand using a rubber
band as shown in Figure 1. Then, two same sized cotton balls -one moistened with
hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the other with ammonium hydroxide (NH 4OH)- was
simultaneously plugged at both ends of the glass rod at the same time. Several minutes
later, when ring of white smoke starts to appear inside the tube, the distance (in cm.) was
measured from each cotton up to the area where the smoke appeared using a ruler.
After repeating the same set-up for four times, the average distance of HCl
and NH4OH was then calculated. The distances and its ratio were recorded in a table to
be analyzed.

Agar-water gel set-up

To test the rate of diffusion of using substances that can be seen as they diffuse
and a medium which will permit diffusion, a drop of Potassium permanganate (KMnO4),
Potassiumm dichromate and methylene blue was carefully placed in each wells of the
agar-water gel petri dish at the same time. After placing one drop of the

Figure 1.1 Set up for demonstration of diffusion

three substances in each well, the cover was placed immediately at the petri dish and the
diameter of the colored area was measured in mm. for zero minute.
Every three minutes, the diameter of the colored area of each substance are
measured and this step is repeated for thirty minutes. The partial rates of diffusion
(mm/min) of each substance were computed using the formula:
Partial rate (Rp) = di di-1
ti ti-1
where:
di = diameter of colored area at a given time
di-1 = diameter of colored area immediately before di
ti = time when di was measured
ti-1 = time immediately before ti
Using the obtained partial values, the average rate of diffusion was computed
by getting its mean. The mean of the partial rates of each substance was plotted in a bar
graph while the partial rates of each substance against time elapsed was plotted in a line
graph.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Table 1.1 showed the distance (in centimeters) of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and
ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) from ammonium chloride (NH 4Cl), the product of the
two substances, which appeared as white smoke. Results showed that the white smoke
was formed closer to the cotton ball containing HCl with an average distance of 15.7
centimeters, compared to the average distance of NH4OH which is 21.4 centimeters.
Ammonia with the molecular weight of 17g/mole diffused faster than HCl with the

molecular weight of 36 g/mole since the rate of diffusion of substance is inversely

proportional to its particle size (Silberberg 2000).
Table 1.2 shows the measured diameters of the colored areas of potassium
permanganate, potassium dichromate and methylene blue in an agar-water gel set-up
every three minutes for half of an hour. Results showed that the diameters of the three
substances increased as shown in figures 1.2 and 1.3.
Potassium permanganate has the greatest measured diameter (8.3 mm) which
means that it has the highest diffusion rate, followed by potassium dichromate (6.1
mm) and methylene blue (5 mm).
From a more concentrated region, molecules diffuse down to where there is a
lower concentration (BBC, 2009). Since heavier molecule moves slower, it also diffuses
slower than lighter molecule (Star and Taggart, 2004). Potassium permanganate (158
g/mole) diffused faster than potassium dichromate (294 g/mole) and methyleneblue (374
g/mole) since it has the lowest molecular weight among the three substances.
Table 1.3 and figure 1.4 shows the partial rate of diffusion of the three
substances against the time elapsed. It is shown that potassium permanganate and
potassium dichromate have changing partial rate of diffusion at times, unlike
methylene blue that has a constant partial rate of diffusion.
Table 1.3 and figure 1.3 shows that the average rate obtained were 0.141
mm/min, 0.096 mm/min and 0.033 mm/min for potassium permanganate (MW=158
g/mole), potassium dichromate (MW=294 g/mole) and methylene blue (MW=374
g/mole), respectively. Among the three substances, potassium permanganate, having
the lowest molecular weight, exhibited the highest rate of diffusion, followed by

Table 1.1. Distance (cm) of hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) from
ammonium chloride (NH4Cl).

Distance (cm)
(d)

Ratio
Total Distance

Trial

(D)
dHCl

dNH3

dHCl

dNH3

NH3

HCl

17.8

27.0

44.8

0.4

0.6

1.5

16.2

19.0

35.2

0.5

0.5

1.2

15.8

21.7

37.5

0.4

0.6

1.4

13.0

18.0

31.0

0.4

0.6

1.4

Average ratio: 1.375

Table 1.2. The diameter (mm) of the colored area of potassium permanganate (KMnO4),
potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O2) and methylene blue at a regular three
Diameter (mm)
Time (minute)

0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30

Potassium

Potassium dichromate

Methylene Blue (MW

permanganate

(MW 294 g/ mole)

374 g/mole)

(MW 158 g/mole)

4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
7
6
7.4
6
8
6
8.1
6.1
8.2
6.2
8.3
6.3
minute interval for thirty minutes.

4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5

10

Figure 1.2. A petri dish of agar-water gel showing the colored areas of the
substances which are the same in diameter during the zero-three
minutes.

11

Figure 1.3. A petri dish of agar-water gel showing the colored areas of the
substances which differed in diameter after 30 minutes.

Table 1.3. Partial rates of diffusion (mm/min) obtained from potassium permanganate

12

(KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O2) and methylene blue.

Partial rates of difussion (mm/min.)
Time elapsed

Potassium
permanganate (MW

Potassium

Methylene Blue

158g/mole)

dichromate (MW

(MW 374 g/mole)

3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
Average rate of

0.33
0
0
0.33
0.33
0.13
0.2
0.03
0.03
0.03

294 g/mole)
0.33
0
0
0
0.33
0
0
0.03
0
0

0.33
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

diffusion

0.141

0.096

0.033

(minute)

(mm/min)

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v
e
r
a
g
e
r
a
t
e
o
f
d
i
f
u
s
i
o
n

13

00..11642
00..8642
0158molecu2l9a4rweight374

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

.0
0
3
5
m
e
t
h
y
l
e
n
b
l
u
e
.0
2
5
p
o
a
s
i
u
m
p
r
m
a
n
g
a
n
t
e
t
d
i
c
h
o
t
.0
1
5
.5 tim
e

p
a
rtilra
teo
fd
ifu
sio
n

14

Figure 1.4. A line graph showing the rate of potassium permanganate (KMnO4),
potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and methylene blue against the time
elapsed.

15

dichromate, having the second lowest molecular weight. Methylene blue, having the
highest molecular weight had the lowest rate of diffusion.
Therefore , the molecular weight has an effect on the rate of diffusion of a
substance.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The effect of the molecular weight to the diffusion rate of a substance has been
determined using the glass rod test and the agar-water gel test.
In the glass rod test, two cotton balls of the same size were moistened using
hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ammonium hydroxide (NH 4OH), and were plugged at the ends
of a glass rod fastened horizontally to a ring stand. A white smoke or ammonium chloride
(NH4Cl), the product of the reaction between ammonia (NH 3) and HCl appeared inside the
tube and was marked in order to measure its distance from the cottons. Results showed that
ammonium hydroxide (MW=35.05g/mol) exhibited a higher diffusion rate because it has a
greater distance from the ring of white smoke than hydrochloric acid (MW=36.46g/mol).
For the agar-water gel test,in a petri dish of agar-water gel with three wells, a drop
of potassium permanganate (KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and methylene blue
were placed simultaneously. The diameters of the colored area of the substances, were
measured every three minutes for thirthy minutes. The partial rate of diffusion of each
substances were computed, and results showed that KMnO4 (MW=158g/mol) has the
highest diffusion rate, followed by K2Cr2O7 (MW=294g/mol), and methylene blue
(MW=374g/mol).
The results concurred with the hypothesis that the molecular weight of a substance

16

has an effect to the rate of diffusion. Therefore, substances with higher molecular weight
diffuse slower and substances with lower molecular weight diffuse faster.

LITERATURE CITED
(n.a.). Diffusion. Retrieved October 4, 2015 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools /gcsebite
size/science/add_aqa_pre_2011/cells/cells3.shtml
Duka, I.A., M.Q. Diaz, N.O. Villa. 2009. Biology I Laboratory Manual: An Investigative
Approach. 9th ed. Laguna: Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, Institution
of Biological Sciences University of the Philippines Los Baos. pp. 35-36
Howley R., B.D MacCraith, K. ODwyer, P. Kirwan, P. McLoughlin. 2003. A study of
the factors affecting the diffusion of chlorinated hydrocarbons into polysiobutylene
and polyethylene-co-propylene for evanescent wave sensing. Vibrational
Spectroscopy. Volume 31, Issue 2: pp 271-278
Meyertholen, E. (n.d). Diffusion. Retrieved on July 30, 2012 from http://www.austince.ed
u/~emeyerth/diffuse2.htm
Silberberg, M. S. 2000. Chemistry 2nd Edition. McGraw-Hill, USA. pp. 205
Starr, C., R. Taggart. 2004. Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life. 10th ed. Singapore:
Thomson Brooks/Cole. pp. 87, 94.
C. Capco, G. C. Yang, 1996. Biology: You and the Natural World Series. 2 nd ed. Phoenix
Publishing House , Inc. Pp 74-75