Diffusion of water in additively colored potassium iodide crystals

The diffusion of water into additively colored potassium iodide has been studied in the range 15–45°C. Penetration depths, measured by decrease in the F-band absorption, increase with $\text{t}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$. The diffusion coefficient, D = 0·58 exp (?6496/T) cm² sec^?1 agrees very well with that determined by other workers. The Henry's law constant, $\text{K =}\text{C}{}_0\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{w}}\text{= 1·3 × 10}{}^9\text{exp}\text{(+4882/T)}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}\text{torr}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ implies a water concentration of C₀ ? 10¹⁷ molecules per cm³ in the surface of KI crystals in equilibrium with an environment at 25°C and 35 per cent relative humidity. The large C₀ makes penetration very rapid. Diffusion occurs by interstitial migration of water molecules with an entropy of activation of 9.4 cal/mol deg and an enthalpy of activation of 12·9 kcal/mol.