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Diffusion of CsCl in Aqueous Glycerol Measured by Laser Refraction: A Physical Chemistry Laboratory Experiment

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Frank P. Rinehart

Division of Science and Mathematics, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Simeen Sattar

Department of Chemistry, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504

J. Chem. Educ., 1998, 75 (9), p 1136

DOI: 10.1021/ed075p1136

Publication Date (Web): September 1, 1998

Abstract

A physical chemistry experiment for illustrating the effect of solvent viscosity on diffusion coefficients of aqueous electrolytes is described. Diffusion coefficients are measured from projected images of refracted laser light passing through concentration gradients established by layering solvents (water/glycerol solutions) on concentrated electrolyte solutions. Nonlinear regression analysis is performed on data transcribed from the projected skewed Gaussian curves to obtain the standard deviation (σ) of the Gaussian at different times. The slope of a graph of σ² versus time is related to the diffusion coefficient D. Values of D are accurate to about 5%. A plot of D versus the reciprocal of solvent viscosity confirms that diffusion slows with increasing viscosity of the medium. A He/Ne laser and easily assembled diffusion cell are the only specialized equipment required.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Physical Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Transport Properties

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

Probing the Interplay of Size, Shape, and Solution Environment in Macromolecular Diffusion Using a Simple Refraction Experiment
Bijith D. Mankidy, Cecil A. Coutinho and Vinay K. Gupta
Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (5), 515-518
- Probing the Interplay of Size, Shape, and Solution Environment in Macromolecular Diffusion Using a Simple Refraction Experiment
  Bijith D. Mankidy, Cecil A. Coutinho and Vinay K. Gupta
  Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (5), 515-518
  The diffusion coefficient of polymers is a critical parameter in biomedicine, catalysis, chemical separations, nanotechnology, and other industrial applications. Here, measurement of macromolecular diffusion in solutions is described using a visually ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
A Device To Emulate Diffusion and Thermal Conductivity Using Water Flow
Harvey F. Blanck , Thomas P. Gonnella
Journal of Chemical Education2005 82 (10), 1523
- A Device To Emulate Diffusion and Thermal Conductivity Using Water Flow
  Harvey F. Blanck , Thomas P. Gonnella
  Journal of Chemical Education2005 82 (10), 1523
  Time places severe limitations on which experiments can be demonstrated in the classroom. Since diffusion in liquids is a slow process, most classroom demonstrations of diffusion involve gaseous diffusion. They do not show quantitatively the relative ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links