Materials Science Questions and Answers – Diffusion Mechanisms

This set of Materials Science Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Diffusion Mechanisms”.

1. Diffusion is the result of:
a) Random motion of particles
b) Concentration gradient
c) Kinetic energy of particles
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Particles in all three phases possess some kinetic energy and are constantly under random motion. However, the rate of this movement is proportional to the number of particles available and hence the net direction of diffusion is from higher concentration to lower.

2. Concentration gradient refers to:
a) Change of concentration with respect to time
b) Change of concentration with respect to space
c) Change of concentration with respect to temperature
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Net direction of diffusion depends on the concentration of particles in a particular region of space and hence concentration gradient is defined as the rate of change concentration of particles in a given sample with respect to time.

3. Interstitial diffusion is generally faster than diffusion by vacancy mode. This is because:
a) Number of interstitial sites is greater than vacancies
b) Vacancy diffusion requires more energy than interstitial diffusion
c) Interstitial species are smaller than substitution species
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: At normal conditions probability of occurrence of an adjacent interstitial site is much greater than that of a vacancy. Moreover, the bondings between the host lattice and interstitial atoms are much weaker.
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4. As the temperature rises, the rate of vacancy diffusion in metals:
a) increases
b) decreases
c) remains the same
d) may increase or decrease
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Since more energy is available at higher energy, it is easier to break existing bonds and form additional vacancies.

5. Generally, the metal-to-metal diffusion takes place by vacancy diffusion.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Interstitial diffusion occurs for smaller impurities like Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen etc. For larger species vacancy diffusion is more common.
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6. Osmosis is different from diffusion as:
a) Diffusion requires semi-permeable membrane
b) Osmosis requires a liquid solvent
c) Osmosis is a form of active transport
d) In osmosis, solute moves from lower concentration to higher
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Osmosis is a special type of diffusion where an SPM separates two liquid solutions. Solutes cannot pass through the SPM. As more solvent particles are present in dilute solution than the concentrated one, these particles move through SPM from the former to the latter.

7. Rate of solid-state diffusion does not depend on which of the following?
a) Temperature
b) Diffusing species
c) Host solid
d) Gravity
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Diffusion is the result of a random motion of particles, i.e. their kinetic energy rather than their potential energy. Hence gravity does not effect the rate.
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8. Diffusion is not used in which of the following?
a) Doping of semiconductors
b) Manufacturing of alloys
c) Heat treatment of metals
d) Catalysis
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Alloy manufacturing is a bulk process, achieved by mixing metal melts. Whereas diffusion is a surface phenomenon.

9. Carburisation is a heat treatment used for case hardening steels. Carbon is trapped on steel surface by:
a) Osmosis
b) Interstitial diffusion
c) Vacancy diffusion
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Carbon forms interstitial carbides with iron due to the large difference in atomic radii.
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10. You want to demonstrate the phenomenon of diffusion to a group of school kids using two coloured gases. For this, you need to slow down the process. Which of the following tricks will help you achieve this feat?
a) Cooling the gases
b) Using gases of large molecular weights
c) Decreasing the size of orifice
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Rate of diffusion is directly proportional to temperature and it is indirectly proportional to molecular weights.

Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Materials Science.

To practice all areas of Materials Science, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.

If you find a mistake in question / option / answer, kindly take a screenshot and email to [email protected]

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Manish Bhojasia - Founder & CTO at Sanfoundry
Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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