Why do diffusion occur

Diffusion explains the net flux of molecules from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration. However, diffusion can still occur in the absence of a concentration gradient.

The result of diffusion is a gradual mixing of material. In a phase with uniform temperature, absent external net forces acting on the particles, the diffusion process will eventually result in complete mixing. Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Temperature and Kinetic Theory. After they reach equilibrium, there is still gas molecules travelling between the two regions, just that they are equal in number.

Of course, because my explanation being not very formal and strict, there would be some errors in my explanation, but I hope that you understand it. To avoid this collision, they have a tendency to move away from each other, especially the gaseous molecules, as they have the highest kinetic energy.

So they start moving. But the net movement of molecule is from high concentration to low concentration so that equilibrium can be reached.

That's why diffusion occurs. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Diffusion Phenomena : Why does diffusion occur? Ask Question. Asked 5 years, 6 months ago. Active 5 years, 5 months ago. Viewed 5k times. Improve this question. It basically boils down to the fact that it is more likely that the particles are going spread apart and become evenly distributed rather than them all accumulating in one spot.

The down side of diffusion is that is it obviously insufficient to move substances up a concentration gradient, and it is not difficult to envision a scenario in which molecules are needed inside a cell despite an already higher concentration of these substances on the inside than on the outside. More often, such substances must be moved across an electrochemical gradient. This is a different physical form of resistance, but it's one that only an investment of ATP can overcome.

This is done using membrane "pumps" that continually fight the tide of the electrochemical gradient that opposes their work. Kevin Beck holds a bachelor's degree in physics with minors in math and chemistry from the University of Vermont. Formerly with ScienceBlogs. More about Kevin and links to his professional work can be found at www. What Are Concentration Gradients in Microbiology?

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