Question

What is the primary cause of diffusion?


1.that some substances can dissolve in solvents
2.heat added to a substance
3.random internal motion of atoms and molecules
4.attraction of opposite atomic charges

Answer 1

The best way, I think, to understand diffusion is by seeing it visually.

Try loading this little animation up and playing it: http://www.biosci.ohiou.edu/introbioslab/Bios170/diffusion/Diffusion.html

^What you see above is a nice way to visualize diffusion; that is, "balls" (reprenting molecules or atoms) bouncing around and hitting one another / the sides of the container.

Answer 2

Let me clarify a bit though.

What you see is balls bouncing randomly....but to do so, they must have a source of energy, correct? What allows diffusion to occur is energy supplied through the form of heat. This thermal energy keeps the balls bouncing around!

Answer 3

not good