POST LAB QUESTIONS

DIFFUSION

1. What is diffusion?
Diffusion is the net movement of molecules or atoms from a region of high
concentration (or high chemical potential) to a region of low concentration (or low
chemical potential) as a result of random motion of the molecules or atoms. Diffusion
is driven by a gradient in chemical potential of the diffusing species.

2. In your experiment, what causes the red powder granule (carmine dye) to
move?
The vibration motion of motion of the red granules is caused by vibration water
colliding with each other and the powder granules

3. Does the red powder granules stop moving at equilibrium?

The red powder granules do not stop. They continue to move while equilibrium is
maintained.

4. What are the factors that affect the rate of diffusion? Explain each of the
factors.
i) Temperature
As temperature increases the average kinetic energy of particles increases. Greater
kinetic energies lead to increased velocities. The increased velocity means that there
is a greater chance of collisions between particles, resulting in an increased rate of
diffusion. Generally, the rate of diffusion increases with temperature.
ii)Density of the Diffusing Substance
Density is defined as the amount of material that exists within a given volume.
Regions of high density contain a greater number of particles per unit volume than
regions of lower density. An increased number of particles leads to a greater chance
of collisions, and this leads to an increased rate of diffusion. A lower number of
particles leads to a reduced chance of collisions and this lowers the rate of diffusion.
Therefore, high-density regions have a greater rate of diffusion than low-density
regions.
iii) Medium of Diffusion
Diffusion also depends upon the medium in which it takes place. Physically, the
particles within the medium act as a barrier to diffusion. Collisions between diffusing
particles and the molecules of the medium lead to a reduction in the rate of diffusion.
 This means that the greater the number of molecules or larger particles within the
medium, the lower the rate of diffusion
iv)Concentration Gradient
The concentration of a substance is defined as the number of solute molecules that
can be found within a given volume. Volumes of high concentration gradient have a
large difference in the concentration of molecules over a unit length. A large
difference in concentration leads to a greater probability of molecular collisions over
the region and therefore increases the rate of diffusion. Generally, the greater the
concentration gradient, the greater the rate of diffusion.

5. Predict how a change in medium (i.e water to gelatin) would affect the rate of
diffusion. Explain your answer.

In this case, the rate of diffusion would be affected by the viscosity of the medium.
Viscosity is a measurement of the degree of "thickness" of a liquid. Oil is more
viscous than water. A gelatinous solution would be more viscous than water.
Therefore, if the solution is thicker and less fluid (more viscous), then we would
expect that the rate of diffusion rate would slow down. The thicker the solution, the
less fluid the solution; therefore, the harder it is for particles to move around in it, and
the slower the diffusion rate.
OSMOSIS
1. Which potato cylinder has increased in length?
Potato cylinder in distilled water has increased in length from 3.0 cm to 3.2 cm. It
increases by 0.2 cm.

2. Which potato cylinder has decreased in length?

Potato cylinder in 20% salt solution has decreased in length from 3.0 cm to 2.9
cm. It decreases by -0.1 cm.

3. Which solution is hypertonic, isotonic and hypotonic to the solute

concentration in the potato cells?
20% salt solution is hypertonic, 0.9% salt solution is isotonic and distilled water is
hypotonic.

4. A solution of 0.9% NaCl is isotonic to red blood cells. What will happen if
you place red blood cells in

(a) A solution of 10% NaCl?

a 10% NaCl solution would be hypertonic (more concentrated) and water
would flow out of the cell, causing it to shrivel (or crenate).
(b) Distilled water?

When the red cells are suspended in hypotonic solution, the water moves in
to the cells by osmosis causing the cells to swell eventually burst called as
haemolysis