Diffusion in liquids
This class practical shows that diffusion takes place in liquids. Students place colourless crystals of lead nitrate and potassium iodide at opposite sides of a petri dish of deionised water. As they dissolve and diffuse towards each other they form clouds of yellow lead iodide.
Read our standard health & safety guidance
Lesson organisation
This practical activity takes around 30 minutes.
Apparatus and Chemicals
Per pair or group of students:
Petri dish
Forceps
White tile or piece of white paper
Lead nitrate (Toxic, Dangerous for the environment), 1 crystal
Potassium iodide (Low hazard), 1 crystal
Deionised water
Technical Notes
Lead nitrate (Toxic, Dangerous for the environment) Refer to CLEAPSS Hazcard 57A
Potassium iodide (Low hazard) Refer to CLEAPSS Hazcard 47B
Procedure
HEALTH & SAFETY: Wear eye protection
a Place a petri dish on a white tile or piece of white paper. Fill it nearly to the top with deionised water.
b Using forceps, place a crystal of lead nitrate at one side of the petri dish and a crystal of potassium iodide at the other.
c Observe as the crystals begin to dissolve and a new compound is formed between them.
Teaching notes
The lead nitrate and potassium iodide each dissolve and begin to diffuse through the water. When the lead ions and iodide ions meet they react to form solid yellow lead iodide which precipitates out of solution.
lead nitrate + potassium iodide → lead iodide + potassium nitrate
Pb (aq) + 2I- (aq) → PbI2 (s)
The precipitate does not form exactly between the two crystals. This is because the lead ion is heavier and diffuses more slowly through the liquid than the iodide ion.
The demonstration Solid solid reaction involves the same reaction but in the solid state.
Health & Safety checked, April 2008
Updated 29 Oct 2008Average rating: 
4 out of 5
Your reviews
Good
Submitted by: tim on 4 January 2010
Good fun in class! I would like to try again at home, but cannot find chemicals. If you could post a link to a supplier, I would appreciate.
Submitted by: moo on 7 January 2010
Chemistry teacher from Belize, Central America. Excellent website.
Submitted by: Apolonio Mai on 13 March 2010
Allow downloading?
Submitted by: yasir on 28 July 2010
It would be helpful to know where these items could be purchased.
Submitted by: Latajia Gaomis on 1 November 2009