What is diffusion and how does it occur in gases and liquids?

What is diffusion and how does it occur in gases and liquids?

• A. Diffusion is the movement of particles from low to high concentration until evenly distributed
• B. Diffusion only occurs in solids
• C. Diffusion is the movement of particles from high to low concentration until evenly distributed
• D. Diffusion creates energy in molecules

Answer: (C)

Diffusion is the spreading of particles from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration until they are evenly mixed. In gases, particles move quickly and are far apart, so they collide and spread out fast, quickly balancing the amount of substance everywhere. In liquids, particles are closer together but still move randomly, so they slowly mix as they bump into each other and spread through the liquid. A good everyday example is perfume in a room—defusing through the air—while in water you might see dye gradually spread out. This idea isn’t about moving from low to high concentration, and it doesn’t happen only in solids or create energy. The correct view is that diffusion moves from high concentration to low concentration until everything is evenly distributed.

Diffusion is the spreading of particles from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration until they are evenly mixed. In gases, particles move quickly and are far apart, so they collide and spread out fast, quickly balancing the amount of substance everywhere. In liquids, particles are closer together but still move randomly, so they slowly mix as they bump into each other and spread through the liquid. A good everyday example is perfume in a room—defusing through the air—while in water you might see dye gradually spread out.

This idea isn’t about moving from low to high concentration, and it doesn’t happen only in solids or create energy. The correct view is that diffusion moves from high concentration to low concentration until everything is evenly distributed.