3.5.9

Diffusion

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Diffusion

Diffusion can happen in liquids and gases. Diffusion is the movement of particles as they spread out from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.

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Concentration

  • If there is a high concentration of particles, there are many particles in a given volume.
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Diffusion

  • Diffusion is the net movement of particles from a high concentration to a lower concentration.
  • Diffusion can only happen in gases and liquids as the particles need to be able to move.
  • Particles in a solid are unable to move - they only vibrate.
  • The rate of diffusion will increase:
    • At higher temperatures.
    • With a larger concentration gradient.
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Diffusion in gases

  • Have you wondered why you can smell deodorant if a person sprays it in another room or how you smell your dinner cooking if you are upstairs?
  • The smell travels as its particles are at a higher concentration than the rest of the room.
  • These particles mix with the rest in the room and start to spread.
  • Eventually they will spread out evenly, but continue to move.
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Diffusion in liquids

  • Diffusion can happen in liquids as particles are able to move.
  • If you spill ink in water, the higher concentration of ink will spread out in the water, changing the water's colour.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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