1.1. Interphase Mass Transfer – Application to Environmental Interfaces

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define molecular diffusion.

   Hint

   Think about how perfumes spread in a room.

2. 2.

   What is bulk flow?

   Hint

   Consider how rivers flow.

3. 3.

   What is the primary mechanism of mass transfer in a stagnant lake?

   • Advection
   • Molecular Diffusion
   • Both

   Hint

   Think of quiet lakes with no strong winds.

4. 4.

   True or False: In groundwater, molecular diffusion can often be neglected.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider how groundwater flows through different soil types.

5. 5.

   A chemical spill occurs near a riverbank. Discuss the relative importance of advection and diffusion in the river versus the groundwater below the river.

   Hint

   Think about flow velocities in each medium.

6. 6.

   Evaluate how the seasonal temperature profile of a lake affects its stratification and subsequent pollutant transport.

   Hint

   Consider how layers in a lake interact based on different temperatures.