Graham's Law of Diffusion

Graham's Law of Diffusion states that gases with lighter molecules diffuse or spread out faster than heavier ones. Essentially, when gases mix, lighter gases like helium move quicker through a space than heavier gases like oxygen. This happens because lighter molecules have less mass and can thus move more rapidly in random motion, leading to faster diffusion. The law quantifies this by showing that the rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the square root of the molecular weight. So, lighter gases diffuse more quickly, explaining phenomena such as helium rising in the air or how odors spread.