Big Manny GCSE Science Experiment: Diffusion

What is diffusion?

Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Diffusion experiment with hot and cold water

There are several factors that can affect the rate of diffusion. One of these factors is temperature. So right here I have some hot water and I have some cold water. What we’re going to do is put some potassium manganate into each, and we’re going to observe the rate of diffusion.

Let’s put the potassium manganate into the hot water. Now we can see that the potassium manganate has diffused very quickly in the hot water. The solution has now turned completely purple.

Now let’s put the potassium manganate into some cold water and see how it affects the rate of diffusion. Now you can see that the potassium manganate is diffusing a lot slower in the cold water than it was in the hot water.

Let’s put the two solutions side-by-side and look at the difference. What we’ve just observed is the effect of temperature on a rate of diffusion. Now the other factors that have an effect on the rate of diffusion are the size of the particles, the concentration gradient, and the state of the matter.

Revision books