GRAHAM’S LAW

BY GROUP 8
WHAT IS GRAHAM’S LAW?
• Was formulated by Scottish physical chemist Thomas
Graham in 1848
• Is a relation which states that the rate of the effusion of
a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of
its density or molecular mass.
 EFFUSION DIFFUSION
The process in The process by
which gas which gas
particles escape particles spread
through a tiny out
hole
Where:

Rate1 is the rate of effusion for the first 
gas. (volume or number of moles per 
unit time).
Rate2 is the rate of effusion for the 
second gas.
MM1 is the molar mass of gas 1
MM2 is the molar mass of gas 2.
EXAMPLE NO. 1

Compare the rate of effusion of

hydrogen gas to oxygen gas
EXAMPLE NO. 2

How much faster does

hydrogen gas effuse
than neon gas?
Quiz:

1. Compare the rate of diffusion of xenon effuse

than argon
2. How much faster does helium gas effuse than
oxygen gas