Graham’s law of diffusion

Graham's law of diffusion describes how gases spread out. It states that the rate at which a gas diffuses is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass. This means lighter gases, like hydrogen, diffuse faster than heavier gases, like carbon dioxide, at the same temperature and pressure.1

This phenomenon is explained by the kinetic theory of gases, which relates the macroscopic properties of gases to the motion of their molecules. Lighter molecules move at higher average speeds than heavier ones at the same temperature, allowing them to spread out more quickly. This principle is fundamental to understanding gas mixtures and their behavior.12