Q: As shown schematically in the figure , two vessels contain water solution (temperature T) of potassium Permanganate (KMnO4) of different concentration n1 and n2 (n1 >n2) molecules per unit volume with Δn =(n1-n2) << n1 . When they are connected by a tube of small length l and cross-sectional area S , KMnO4 starts to diffuse from left to right vessel through the tube . Consider the collection of molecules to behave as dilute ideal gases and the difference in their partial pressure in the two vessels causing the diffusion . The speed v of molecules is limited by the viscous force -β v on each molecule , where β is constant . Neglecting all terms of the order (Δn)^2 , Which of the following is/are correct ? (kB is the Boltzmann constant)
(a) the force causing the molecules to move across the tube is Δn kB T S
(b) force balance implies n1βvl = Δn kB T
(c) total number of molecules going across the tube per sec is $(\frac{\Delta n}{l}) (\frac{k_B T}{\beta})S$
(d) rate of molecules getting transferred through the tube does not change with time
Ans: (a,b,c)
Solution: n1 >> (n1-n2) = Δn
$p_1 = \frac{n_1 R T}{N_A}$ and $p_2 = \frac{n_2 R T}{N_A}$
$F = (n_1 -n_2)k_B T S = \Delta n k_B T S$
$V = \frac{\Delta n k_B T S}{\beta} $
$\Delta n k_B T S = l n_1 S \beta v $
$n_1 \beta v l = \Delta n k_B T $
Total number of molecules/second $= \frac{(n_1 v dt)S}{dt}$
$= n_1 v S = \frac{\Delta n K_B T v S}{\beta v l}$
$= (\frac{\Delta n}{l}) (\frac{k_B T}{\beta})S $
As Δn will decrease with time , therefore rate of molecules getting transfer decreases with time