Question

Solids, liquids and gases can diffuse into _______________________.
(A) Solids
(B) Liquids
(C) Gases
(D) Plasma

Answer 1

Hint: Diffusion in solid is very slow as compared to liquid as particles are rigid and do not move much. Diffusion in gas is fast as they have a large empty space and high kinetic energy. Example of solid diffusion in liquid is sugar in water. Diffusion of gas in liquid has an example of oxygen dissolved in water. Example of liquid diffusion in liquid is alcohol dissolved in water.

Complete solution step by step:
Diffusion: Diffusion is the movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
The molecules move from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration until the concentration becomes equal throughout.
Liquid and gases undergo diffusion as the molecules are able to move randomly.
Diffusion is driven by a gradient in concentration.
Diffusion of one state of matter into another:
Solid can diffuse in liquid. When sugar is added to water, whole water becomes sweet without stirring it because of diffusion of sugar into water.
One liquid can be diffused into another liquid as particles of both the liquids are in random motion and will become equal throughout. Example is alcohol in water.
Gas can be diffused in a liquid state. Carbon dioxide and oxygen are the two gases in air which dissolves in water by diffusion. Carbon dioxide is important for aquatic plants for photosynthesis. Oxygen is used by aquatic animals for breathing.
From the above points we can conclude that solids, liquids and gases diffuse in liquid state.
Hence, the correct option is (C) liquids.

Note: Temperature, area of interaction, size of the particle and the steepness of the concentration gradient are all factors that affect the process of diffusion. When a crystal of potassium permanganate is placed at the bottom of water in a beaker, the water in the whole beaker turns purple on its own, even without stirring. This is an example of Diffusion. Diffusion is the movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration