2.1. Fick’s Law of Diffusion

Try these first

1. 1.

   Describe Fick's Law in your own words.

   Hint

   Think about how and where diffusion occurs in nature.

2. 2.

   What is the role of the diffusion coefficient?

   Hint

   Consider factors that might change this coefficient.

3. 3.

   What does Fick's Law describe?

   • The process of diffusion
   • Chemical reactions
   • Fluids at rest

   Hint

   Think about substance movement.

4. 4.

   True or False: Higher temperature generally leads to increased diffusion rates.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Check your understanding of molecular motion.

5. 5.

   Discuss how Fick’s Law can help in predicting the spread of a pollutant within a lake. Include factors that would be critical in such a prediction.

   Hint

   Reference examples from real environmental assessments to draw connections.

6. 6.

   Using Fick's Law, calculate the flux of a substance when the concentration changes from 10 mg/L to 2 mg/L across a distance of 5 meters if the diffusion coefficient is 0.1 m²/s.

   Hint

   Make sure to identify which concentration is higher; direction matters in diffusion outcomes.