DIFFUSION

Influence of Concentration, Temperature,

Solubility, and Molecular Weight

Report by: Ysabel S. Consolacion

Materials:
• 3 agar-­‐filled  petri  dishes  
(each  with  2  1-­‐cm  wells)
• Congo  red
• Congo  red  (50%  solution)
• Methylene  blue  
• Methylene  blue  (50%  
solution)
• Thermometer
• Ruler
Procedure:

A  &  B:  Fill  the  1st well  with  

congo red  and  the  2nd well  with  
Label  the  petri  dishes: methylene  blue
A:  Place  in  refrigerator  and  
A. Cold  temperature
record  the  temperature
B. Room  temperature C:  Fill  the  1st well  with  congo
C. Room  temperature  (50%   red  50%  and  the  2nd well  with  
B  &  C:  Place  in  room  temp.  
solution) methylene  blue  50%

Note  the  time

Procedure:

After  24  hours,  measure  the  

Measure  the  distance  diffused   distance  diffused  (in  mm)  using   Calculate  the  rate  of  linear  
(in  mm)  using  a  ruler a  ruler diffusion  (mm  per  hour)
Results:

Cold temperature Room temperature Room temperature (50% sol’n)

Results:
Time at which wells 3:55  PM Time of measurement: 4:59  PM
were filled: 11:30  AM  (After 18hrs)
Temperature of the 25  C Temperature of the 12 C
room: refrigerator:

Distance  diffused  (in  mm) CONGO RED METHYLENE BLUE

final initial dd final initial dd
Cold 9 2 7 12 4 8

Warm 14 3 11 17 5 12

Warm  (50%  solution) 11 2.5 8.5 14 4 10

 DIFFUSION
• Net movement of atoms or molecules to regions of
high concentrations to low concentrations
• Random thermal motion
 DIFFUSION
Magnitude of net flux depends on:
i. Concentration difference
ii. Temperature
iii. Mass of the molecule
iv. Surface area
v. Medium through which molecules are moving

• Net flux: The net rate of material transfer from one

location to another
Concentration

The higher the number of molecules in a unit of

volume is, the higher the flux of molecules across the
surface of the unit will also be since just as many
molecules will be moving in any direction at a given
time.
Temperature

The more elevated the temperature, the greater the

speed of molecular movement and the faster the net
flux;
Molecular Weight

MW  =  696.68   MW  =  319.86

Large molecules such as proteins have a greater mass

and lower speed than smaller molecules such as glucose
and, consequently, have a slower net flux.
THANK YOU