What is diffusion? What effect does increase in temperature cause on rate of diffusion?

Diffusion is the process by which molecules or particles spread out from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration. This movement occurs due to the random motion of particles and is driven by the goal of achieving equilibrium, where the concentration of particles is uniform throughout the system.

When the temperature increases, the rate of diffusion generally also increases. This is because higher temperatures lead to greater kinetic energy among particles. With more kinetic energy, particles move faster and collide more frequently, which results in a greater likelihood of them overcoming barriers and diffusing through a medium more rapidly.

Think of it like a room filled with people. If the room is cold, people move slowly and are less likely to bump into each other and exchange places. But if the room gets warmer, people move faster and bump into each other more frequently, leading to a quicker spread throughout the room. Similarly, in diffusion, higher temperatures lead to increased molecular movement and, therefore, a faster rate of diffusion.