Use the diagram below to answer the question.

Question

Image

The diagram shows a beaker of water and molecules of red dye at the beginning of an experiment (Time 1) and the same beaker of water and molecules of red dye after 30 minutes (Time 2). Which of the following best explains what happened?

a
Molecules of red dye moved by active transport from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.
b
Molecules of water moved by osmosis from a lower concentration to a higher concentration.
c
Molecules of red dye moved by diffusion from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.
d
Molecules of water moved by active transport from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.

Answer 1

The best explanation for what happened in the experiment is:

c. Molecules of red dye moved by diffusion from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.

This option accurately describes the process of diffusion, where molecules naturally move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached. In the case of the red dye, initially, it would be concentrated in one area (the beginning of the experiment), and over time, it spreads throughout the water, resulting in a more uniform concentration.