Understanding Fick's Second Law: Concentration Changes Over Time

In summary, Fick's Second Law is a mathematical equation that describes the change in concentration of a substance over time. It states that the rate of change is directly proportional to the concentration gradient and the diffusion coefficient of the substance. This law is essential in understanding the movement of substances through a medium, such as in diffusion processes in cells or in the transport of pollutants through soil. It is a fundamental concept in many fields of science and engineering, and its applications are extensive.
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Hello,

I read on wikipedia that the second law represents how concentration changes with time, but I was wondering how taking the partial derivative with respect to x of the first law will give change in concentration with time?
 
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FAQ: Understanding Fick's Second Law: Concentration Changes Over Time

What is Fick's Second Law?

Fick's Second Law is a mathematical equation that describes how the concentration of a substance changes over time due to diffusion. It is commonly used in fields such as chemistry and physics to model the movement of particles in a system.

How does Fick's Second Law work?

Fick's Second Law states that the rate of change of concentration of a substance is directly proportional to the second derivative of its concentration with respect to distance. In simpler terms, it means that the concentration changes more rapidly in areas where there is a greater concentration gradient.

What are the assumptions of Fick's Second Law?

There are three main assumptions of Fick's Second Law: (1) the substance being studied is in a homogeneous medium, (2) there is no external driving force affecting the diffusion, and (3) the substance being studied is non-reactive and does not change its concentration over time.

What are some real-world applications of Fick's Second Law?

Fick's Second Law has many practical applications, such as in drug delivery systems, where it can be used to predict the release rate of a drug from a patch or tablet. It is also used in environmental studies to model the dispersion of pollutants in air and water. Additionally, Fick's Second Law is used in materials science to understand the diffusion of atoms in solids.

How does Fick's Second Law relate to Fick's First Law?

Fick's First Law, also known as the Law of Diffusion, describes the flux (rate of movement) of a substance due to diffusion. Fick's Second Law builds upon this by describing how the concentration of a substance changes over time due to diffusion. Essentially, Fick's Second Law is an extension of Fick's First Law and they are often used together in modeling diffusion processes.

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