Select the correct answer. What effect will the number of particles and temperature have on the rate of diffusion of gas molecules? A. The rate of diffusion decreases with the increase in number of particles and temperature. B. The rate of diffusion increases with the increase in number of particles and temperature. C. The rate of diffusion increases with the increase in number of particles and decrease in temperature. D. The rate of diffusion decreases if the number of particles and temperature are kept constant. E. The rate of diffusion increases if the number of particles and temperature are kept constant. Reset Next

Diffusion occurs due to the collision of the particles in the gas phase and causes them to disperse from a region of high concentration to that of low concentration until the particles are distributed evenly in the space – which is what is called equilibrium.

The more the particles, therefore, the higher the rate of collisions between the particles hence a higher rate of diffusion. Also, higher temperatures mean the particles have higher kinetic energy. The collisions rates are higher and with higher kinetic energy therefore increasing the rate of diffusion.