The diffusion of potassium chloride in aqueous solution

Abstract

Diffusion is one of the simplest and most significant properties of substances in solution, and yet it has received comparatively little attention for lack of a ready method of obtaining even moderately accurate data. The state of this subject is strikingly revealed when one plots, as in fig. 1, the data of International Critical Tables and of Landolt-Börnstein Tabellen for potassium chloride, which presumably comprise the best measurements available for any one substance. It is evident that a very arbitrary choice would be required to deduce quantitative information from these conflicting numbers obtained at such great expense of time and trouble. The device introduced by Northrop and Anson of arranging that diffusion should take place between two homogeneous bodies of liquid through a porous partition of sintered glass (or of alundum) appears to provide a very simple, rabid, and reproducible method of obtaining diffusion data for electrolytes, non-electrolytes, mixtures and colloids, under very varied conditions.