Question

Discuss why the following affect the rate of diffusion: molecular size, temperature, solution density, and the distance that must be travelled.

Short answer

The diffusion rate of a heavy molecule is slower than the lighter molecules, on increasing the temperature diffusion rate increases, diffusion rate decreases when the density of the solvent increases, the diffusion rate is slow when the molecule has to travel more distance so the following factors affect the rate of diffusion.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

Diffusion is a process by which the movement of material or molecules from a higher concentration to a lower concentration occurs.

Step 2. Explanation

Some factors affect the rate of diffusion in the following ways:-

• The movement of molecules is slow which are heavy so they diffuse more slowly than the lighter molecules.
• Temperature increases the movement of the molecules by increasing the energy thus diffusion rate increases.
• The diffusion rate decreases when the density of the solvent increases because the movement of the molecules slow down when they have to pass through the denser medium. If the medium of the solution is less dense then the diffusion rate increases.
• The diffusion rate is slow when the molecules have to travel a greater distance.