Molecular Diffusion in Liquids
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Equations describing molecular diffusion in liquids are similar to those applied to gases.
MOLECULAR DIFFUSION IN LIQUIDS
Equations
describing molecular diffusion in liquids are similar to those applied to
gases. The rate of diffusion of material A in a liquid is given by equation
(4.1).
Fick’s
law for steady-state, equimolal counterdiffusion is then
where
CA2 and CA1 are the molar concentrations at points x2 and x1, respectively. Equations for diffusion through a
layer of stagnant liquid can also be developed. The use of these equations is,
however, limited because diffusivity in a liquid varies with concentration. In
addition, unless the solutions are very dilute, the total molar concentration
will vary from point to point. These complications do not arise with diffusion
in gases.
Diffusivities
in liquids are very much less than diffusivities in gases, commonly by a factor
of 104.
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