Final answer:
The random movement of molecules in a solution is caused by Brownian motion and diffusion, both leading to a dynamic equilibrium. Despite the randomness, molecular motion adheres to predictable patterns like the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The random movement of molecules in a solution is primarily caused by Brownian motion, which is the chaotic motion of particles suspended in a fluid. This random motion is a result of numerous molecular collisions, where each collision results in a change of direction and velocity. The randomness of this motion can be compared to the randomness in outcomes at a casino; while the outcomes are unpredictable in the short-term, in the long-term, the average results surface.
Another driving factor behind the random molecular motion is the concept of diffusion. Diffusion refers to the movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, driven by the random motion of molecules. Once the molecule diffuses completely and evenly throughout the solution, we refer to this as a dynamic equilibrium.
The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution describes the predictability in the randomness by providing a distribution of molecular speeds in a gas. This distribution is determined based on kinetic theory and has been confirmed through experiments. Although molecular speeds in a gas may seem random, they follow this predictable distribution which allows us to understand and study them better.
Learn more about Molecular Motion