Generally speaking, the experiments should follow the third category, but the system didn’t have enough time to reach equilibrium.
If you have infinite time at your disposal, you can rely on diffusion to do its job. Unfortunately, the project had a finite amount of time allocated to it, and 60 l barrels are large enough that significant concentration gradients can exist. Found that out the hard way.
LPT: Don’t start your experiments until all the mixers have arrived.
Generally speaking, the experiments should follow the third category, but the system didn’t have enough time to reach equilibrium.
If you have infinite time at your disposal, you can rely on diffusion to do its job. Unfortunately, the project had a finite amount of time allocated to it, and 60 l barrels are large enough that significant concentration gradients can exist. Found that out the hard way.
LPT: Don’t start your experiments until all the mixers have arrived.