Diffusion

• Constantly moving liquid and gas molecules tend to move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration until evenly distributed
• This is a passive process therefore it does not require energy
• molecules move down a concentration gradient
• Factors that effect diffusion include

  • concentration - the greater the concentration gradient the greater the diffusion rate
  • Temperature - at higher temperature, molecules have more kinetic energy and so move and diffuse faster
  • Pressure - Molecules move quickly from an area of higher to lower pressure