Mapua University
Senior High School
Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics
Experiment 4:
Graham’s Law of Effusion
Magliquian, Ethan Rae T.
Mendoza, Abraham M.
Ong, Christian Gabriel A.
Ortega, Azriel Matthew O.
Palma, Katherine B.
Prof. Ardvin Kester S. Ong, RCT, RCH
ABSTRACT
Keywords:
Introduction
Gases assume both the volume
available to it and take the shape of the
container. As a result, the volume of a gas is
equal to the volume of its container. Gases
occupy far more space that the liquid or solid
from which they form. Gas molecules are
relatively far apart and rarely interact with
each other. Each gas molecule behaves as
though the others are not present.
Consequently, the rise of the different
characteristics of gases is introduced,
allowing them to move freely between
collisions. Gases are similar to liquids in that
they both flow. Hence, both are called fluids.
Unlike solids and liquids, gases are highly
compressible. When pressure is applied to
gas, its volume decreases. Pressure is
inversely proportional to volume.
Because gas molecules don’t interact
with each other, they do not exist as different
types like those of liquids and solids. The
different types of liquids and solids have
properties that reflect the distinctive ways
their molecules interact. As a result gases
share common behaviours, even though they
are made up of different molecules.
Group 5
February 19, 2018
Group 5 – CHM01 – G111
- Christian Gabriel A. Ong
Graham’s Law, also known as
Graham’s law of effusion was formulated by
a Scottish chemist, Thomas Graham in 1848.
Graham published his research on the motion
of gas particles. He developed this law to
compare the rates of effusion of different
gases. It states that:
r1 √ M 2
=
r2 √ M 1
Equation 1. Graham’s Law of Effusion
Under the same conditions of
temperature and pressure, the ratio of the rate
of the effusion of gas 1 (r1) to the rate of
effusion of gas 2 (r2) is equal to the ratio of
the square root of the molar mass of gas 2
(M2) to the square root of the molar mass of
gas 1 (M1). It implies that the rate of motion
of gas is inversely proportional to the square
root of the mass of its particles.
Effusion is defined as the process by
which gases travel through an orifice or
opening in a barrier. When gases are allowed
CHM01 - AKSOng
to move freely, they move from regions of
high concentrations to regions of low
concentration.
Thomas Graham experimented by
passing gases through a porous barrier. He
measured the rates of effusion for various
gases and found out that mass is inversely
proportional to velocity, entailing that heavier
masses move more slowly that lighter masses.
-Azriel Matthew O. Ortega
References:
Calderon, Edna., Santos, Nanette. Chemistry
Laboratory Manual – Part 1, 2016
Graham, Thomas. On the Motion of Gases,
Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1846

The spontaneous intermixture of

different gases, and their passage under
pressure through apertures in thin plates and
by tubes, form a class of phenomena of which
the laws have been only partially established.
(Graham, 1846)

It is possible to make estimates

regarding the net velocity of gases by
applying Graham’s Law of Effusion as well
as diffusion. In this experiment, the relative
rates of diffusion of ammonia (NH3) and
hydrogen chloride (HCl) are determined by
measuring the distances travelled by the two
gases within a constant time. The two gases
will react to form ammonium chloride
(NH4Cl) which is a solid. The solid will form
a white ring in the middle of the tube that will
indicate that the two gases met and tell
exactly how far the gases travelled before
they met.

The objective of this experiment is to

compute for the molar mass of ammonia by
using Graham’s law of diffusion equation.

-Katherine B. Palma

Experimental Section
Equipment and Glassware
Methodology
-Ethan Rae T. Magliquian

Results and Discussion

Group 5 CHM01 - AKSOng