Homework 3.

Unsteady state diffusion into semi-infinite medium

The winter-kill of fish in mountain lakes has been attributed in part to the depletion of oxygen
from the water due to frozen surface. At the end of the winter, following the thaw, the oxygen
concentration in one case was found to be 3.0x10-5 kgmol/m3. However in the spring the
water is again oxygenated as a result of its contact with air. If the lake is at an elevation of
2133 m and is “very” deep, determine the concentration of oxygen in the water at a depth of
0.06 m due to diffusion after (a) 1 day, and (b) 3 days. (c) Determine the penetration distance
of oxygen after 30 days. The temperature of the lake is uniform at 5 C. Assume that the
concentration of oxygen in the water at the surface is in equilibrium with air which is
3.08x10-4 kgmol oxygen/m3 solution. Values of Gauss error function is given in the Table.