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The average time it takes for a molecule to diffuse a distance of \(x \mathrm{~cm}\) is given by $$ t=\frac{x^{2}}{2 D} $$where \(t\) is the time in seconds and \(D\) is the diffusion coefficient. Given that the diffusion coefficient of glucose is \(5.7 \times 10^{-7} \mathrm{~cm}^{2} / \mathrm{s},\) calculate the time it would take for a glucose molecule to diffuse \(10 \mu \mathrm{m}\), which is roughly the size of a cell.

Short Answer

Expert verified
It would take approximately 0.88 seconds for a glucose molecule to diffuse a distance of 10 micrometers, the roughly size of a cell.

Step by step solution

01

Convert distance from micrometers to centimeters

To use the formula, the distance x needs to be in the same unit as the diffusion coefficient (centimeters). Given that 1 cm = 10,000 micrometers, the distance of 10 micrometers can be converted to centimeters by dividing by 10,000. So, \(x = \frac{10}{10,000} = 0.001\) cm.
02

Substitute the given values into the formula

Now that we have x in the appropriate unit, we can substitute the given values into the formula \(t=\frac{x^{2}}{2 D}\). We are given that D is \(5.7 \times 10^{-7}\) cm²/s and we found that x is 0.001 cm. So, \(t = \frac{(0.001)^{2}}{2 \times 5.7 \times 10^{-7}}\).
03

Compute the result

Solving the equation gives \(t = \frac{0.000001}{2 \times 5.7 \times 10^{-7}} = \frac{0.000001}{1.14 \times 10^{-6}} = 0.87719\) seconds.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Diffusion Coefficient
Understanding the diffusion coefficient is crucial in grasping how molecules spread over time. This coefficient, represented by the symbol 'D', is a measure of how quickly molecules diffuse through a particular medium. It is affected by factors such as the size and shape of the molecules, temperature, and viscosity of the medium.

The diffusion coefficient has units of area per time (typically cm²/s), expressing the rate at which the concentration of a substance changes over distance with time. For example, in our glucose diffusion scenario, a higher 'D' would mean glucose molecules spread more rapidly. When calculating diffusion times, it's essential to have the diffusion coefficient to use the equation \( t=\frac{x^{2}}{2 D} \), where 't' is the time and 'x' is the distance traveled.
Converting Units in Chemistry
Chemistry calculations often require unit conversions to ensure that all quantities are expressed in the same system of units. This consistency is vital for the accuracy of chemical equations and formulations. In the context of diffusion time calculation, it is essential to convert the distance unit 'micrometers' to 'centimeters', because our given diffusion coefficient is in cm²/s.

To convert micrometers to centimeters, we use the fact that 1 cm equals 10,000 micrometers. Therefore, we divide the micrometer value by 10,000 to express it in centimeters. Proper unit conversion can be the difference between a correct answer and a significant miscalculation, making it a foundational skill in chemistry.
Molecular Movement
Molecular movement is the random motion of molecules as they spread from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration, a process driven by their intrinsic kinetic energy. This phenomenon is known as diffusion and is inherently connected to the nature of molecules being in constant, random motion. The speed and pattern of this movement can be influenced by various factors, such as temperature, size of the molecules, and the medium in which they are moving.

Understanding molecular movement allows us to predict how substances disperse in different environments. For example, glucose molecules might take more time to diffuse across a cell than smaller molecules due to their larger size. Hence, molecular movement is a key aspect of many biological and chemical processes, including the diffusion example addressed in our problem.

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