Effect of supporting electrolyte on the activation energy for diffusion of some monovalent ions

The effect of some alkali metal bromides, iodides and sulphates on the diffusion of bromide, iodide and thallium ions, respectively, is studied at various temperatures. The activation energy required for the process of diffusion of these three ions in different supporting electrolytes have been calculated. It is found that activation energy for a given ion decreases in the reverse order of the charge density of alkali metal ions of the supporting electrolyte. This observed trend in activation energy is explained qualitatively by considering the distortion in the water structure caused by these ions and agar molecules.