Scribd
Upload
43 views13 pages

Sci Paper Bio

The document summarizes two experiments that investigated the effect of molecular weight on the rate of diffusion of substances. In the first experiment, HCl and NH3 were diffused through a glass tube, and NH3 traveled farther due to its lower molecular weight of 17g/mol compared to HCl's 36g/mol. In the second experiment, dyes with different molecular weights - potassium permanganate (158g/mol), potassium dichromate (294g/mol), and methylene blue (374g/mol) - were diffused through an agar gel, and potassium permanganate diffused the fastest with the lowest molecular weight. Overall, the results of both experiments supported the hypothesis that substances with higher molecular

Uploaded by

MikeOcampo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
43 views13 pages

Sci Paper Bio

The document summarizes two experiments that investigated the effect of molecular weight on the rate of diffusion of substances. In the first experiment, HCl and NH3 were diffused through a glass tube, and NH3 traveled farther due to its lower molecular weight of 17g/mol compared to HCl's 36g/mol. In the second experiment, dyes with different molecular weights - potassium permanganate (158g/mol), potassium dichromate (294g/mol), and methylene blue (374g/mol) - were diffused through an agar gel, and potassium permanganate diffused the fastest with the lowest molecular weight. Overall, the results of both experiments supported the hypothesis that substances with higher molecular

Uploaded by

MikeOcampo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

1

The Effect of Molecular Weight on the Rate of Diffusion on a


Substance1

John Michael B. Ocampo


Group 3 Sec. UV-3L

October 9, 2014

1 A scientific paper submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements in General Biology I


laboratory under Prof. Janece Polizon, 1st. sem., 2014-2015

ABSTRACT

The effect of molecular weight on the rate of diffusion on a


substance has two experiments that were involved. The first was
the use of glass tubes. The reaction of HCl gas and NH 3 occurred.
The distance travelled during the reaction was then measured. NH 3
travelled 23.25cm compared to 13.238cm that was travelled by
HCl. The next set-up used gel. Potassium permanganate (KMnO 4),
potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), and methylene blue was dropped
simultaneously on each of the wells in the agar-water gel set-up.
The diameter of diffusion zone was measured on a three-minute
interval for 30 minutes. Potassium permanganate (KMnO 4) got the
largest diameter of 12mm and has the fastest diffusion among the
three dyes. The average rate of diffusion was 0.266 mm/min. The
results show that rate of diffusion is slower if a substance has a
high molecular weight. Regarding time and the partial rate of
diffusion, they are inversely proportional with each other.

INTRODUCTION
Diffusion is the process moving of molecules from an area of higher
concentration to an area of lower concentration. It is a spontaneous movement,
which means it doesnt require energy when passing through a membrane or
electrochemical gradient (Campbell and Reece, 2002)
There are factors that may affect the rate of diffusion of a substance.
Molecular weight, temperature, and surface area are one of these factors
(Meyertholen, 2007). It is said that a smaller particle is pushed faster during
diffusion. This means that the hypothesis is that molecular weight is a factor
together with the particle size.

To determine if the hypothesis is true, an experiment is to be conducted.


The experiment to be done relating the molecular weight consists of two set-ups
with different media. The first set-up is a glass tube set-up. Two cotton balls
soaked in hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide were placed in both ends
of the glass tubes. The distance covered by the reacting gases are to be
measured. This will indicate the significance of molecular weight on the rate of
diffusion of a substance. The next set-up is an agar-water gel set-up. Three dyes
are to be used in this experiment: potassium permanganate (KMnO 4), potassium
dichromate (K2Cr2O7), and methylene blue. The dyes are to be dropped in the
wells of the gel simultaneously. The diameter of the drops is to be measured
within 30 minutes.
This study aimed to determine the effect of molecular weight on the rate of
diffusion on a substance. The main objectives were:
1. to identify other factors that may affect the rate of diffusion; and
2. to explain the effect of molecular weight on the diffusion rate of a
substance

MATERIALS AND METHODS


The study was conducted at Room C-127, Wing C, Biological Sciences Building
at the University of the Philippines Los Baos.
The glass set-up (Figure 1) was prepared. Two cotton balls were then
soaked in HCl and NH4OH. After the cotton balls were soaked, both were placed
simultaneously on the ends of the glass tube. After some time, a white smoke

appeared inside the tube. The location of the smoke was then marked. The
distance of the location to the ends of the tube was measured and recorded.
The agar-water gel set-up is next. A petri dish with agar-water gel was
prepared. Three dyes were dropped on the wells of the gel simultaneously. The
diameter of each diffusion zone was observed and was measured within a span
of 30 minutes. After measuring, the average rate of diffusion is calculated using

this formula: Partial rate (rp) =

d id i1
t it i1

(Lab Manual)

where di = diameter of colored area at a given time


di-1 = diameter of colored area before di
ti = time when di was measured
ti-1 = time immediately before ti

Figure 1. Glass tube set-up (Lab Manual)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION


The glass tube set-up used air as its medium for diffusion for
the reaction of HCl and NH 3 to form NH4Cl. This is related to the
relationship of molecular weight to the rate of diffusion.

Table 1. Distances travelled by the diffusion of NH 3 and HCl gas and


the ratios of the distances to the total distance.
Trial

1
2
3
4
AVERA
GE

Distance (cm)
(d)
dHCl
DNH3
13.700
14.000
10.500
14.750
13.238

22.200
21.000
27.300
22.500
23.250

Total
Distanc
e
(D)

Ratio
d HCl
D

d NH 3
D

NH 3
HCl

35.900
35.000
37.800
37.250
36.488

0.382
0.400
0.278
0.796
0.464

0.618
0.600
0.722
0.604
0.636

1.620
1.500
2.600
1.530
1.813

The smoke that was formed during the reaction is called ammonium
chloride. This is the product of HCl and NH 3 through the use of diffusion. In table
1, the data showed that NH 3 travelled a longer distance than HCl. NH 3 got an
average distance of 23.250cm. HCl has a molecular weight of 36 g/mol while
ammonia has 17 g/mol. For now, the hypothesis is proven.

The experiment is done again but on a different set-up. The next set-up
made use of a gel to stop the mobility of water. The three dyes were placed
simultaneously in each of the wells.
The data in table 2.1 shows that KMnO 4 has a larger diffusion zone
compared to the other two substances. Methylene blue has the smallest diffusion
zone but has the highest molecular weight among the three. KMnO 4 with 158
g/mol, K2Cr2O7, with 294 g/mol, and methylene blue with a molecular weight of
374 g/mol. KMnO4 has also the fastest rate of diffusion (0.266mm/min) among the
three.

Figure 2.1. Initial agar-water gel set-up containing potassium permanganate,


potassium dichromate, methylene blue

Figure 2.2. Final agar-water gel set-up containing potassium permanganate,


potassium dichromate, and methylene blue

Table 2.1. Diameter of the three dyes measured at three-minute intervals for 30
minutes.
Time (min)

0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30

Potassium
permanganate
(MW 158
g/mol)
4
6
7
7
7
8
10
11
12
12
12

Diameter (mm)
Potassium
dichromate
(MW 294
g/mol)
4
5
6
7
7
8
9
10
10
11
11

Methylene
Blue
(MW 374
g/mol)
4
5
5
5
6
7
7
9
9
10
10

Table 2.2. Partial rates measured at three-minute intervals for 30 minutes


Time elapsed
(min)

3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24

Diammeter (mm)
Potassium
Potassium
permanganate
Dichromate
(MW 158
(MW 294
g/mol)
g/mol)
0.67
0.33
0.33
0.33
0
0.33
0
0
0.33
0.33
0.67
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.67
0

Methylene
Blue
(MW 374
g/mol)
0.33
0
0
0.33
0.33
0
0.67
0

27
30

0
0

0.33
0

0.33
0

Average rate
of diffusion

0.266

0.231

0.199

10

(mm/min)

The graphs show the average rate with respect to the factors molecular
weight and time. The potassium permanganate is the lightest and has the fastest
rate of diffusion among the three. This shows that substances with lower
molecular weight will diffuse faster.

Molecular weight (g/mole)


0.3
0.25
0.2

Average rate ofDiffusion 0.15


(mm/min)
0.1
0.05
0
158

294

Figure 3.1. The effect of molecular weight on the average rate of diffusion.

374

11

2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2

Partial rate of Diffusion


(mm/min)
KMnO4

K2Cr2O7 0.8

Methylene Blue

Linear (Methylene Blue)

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
3

12

15

18

21

Time elapsed (min.)

Figure 3.2. The partial rate of diffusion with respect to time elapsed.

24

27

30

12

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION


The effect of molecular weight on the rate of diffusion was satisfied in the
two set-ups. Although they have satisfied the hypothesis, the results may vary
due to concentration of the substances to be used.
In the first experiment, results show that the NH 3 (17 g/mol) diffused faster
than the HCl (36 g/mol). The results are still needed to be verified by the next
experiment. Methylene blue appeared as the slowest to diffuse in the second setup having a rate of 0.199 mm/min. The results in the first and second experiment
verified the proposed hypothesis. A substance with higher molecular weight tends
to diffuse slower.
It is recommended that, to be able to arrive at the same results, the
processes in each experiment are to be done simultaneously. Be careful when
preparing the concentrations for this will affect the resulting data.

13

LITERATURE CITED
Campbell, N.A. and J.B. Reece. 2009. Biology. 9th ed. San Francisco:
Benjamin Cummings Pub. Co., Inc. pp. 132-133
I.A. Duka, M.Q. Diaz, and N.O.Villa. 2009. Biology 1 Laboratory
Manual: An Investigative Approach 9th Edition. Philippines. p. 34-38.
Meyertholen, E. 2007. Diffusion. Retrieved Oct. 19, 2014 from
http://www.austincc.edu/~emeyerth/diffuse1.htm

You might also like