Question

Why would you expect the rate of diffusion to increase with temperature?

a) Increased temperature increases density.
b) Increased temperature decreases kinetic energy.
c) Increased temperature increases molecular motion.
d) Increased temperature decreases intermolecular forces.

Answer 1

The rate of diffusion increases with temperature because the added heat raises the kinetic energy of the molecules, leading to faster movement and quicker diffusion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate of diffusion would be expected to increase with temperature due to c) Increased temperature increases molecular motion. Higher temperatures impart more kinetic energy to molecules, causing them to move faster. This results in a higher diffusion rate as molecules spread out more rapidly.

Conversely, at lower temperatures, molecules have less energy and move more slowly, which decreases the rate of diffusion. Solvent density also plays a role; a lower density means fewer interactions between molecules, also contributing to increased diffusion. Therefore, greater temperatures lead to increased movement and a faster rate of diffusion while a decrease in solvent density can further accelerate this process.