Scientific Laws & Principles
Intermediate

Graham's Law of Effusion

The rate at which a gas effuses through a tiny hole is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass.

Formula

r1r2=M2M1\frac{r_1}{r_2} = \sqrt{\frac{M_2}{M_1}}

Variables

rEffusion rate
MMolar mass

Example

Hydrogen effuses about 4× faster than oxygen, since √(32/2) = 4.

Did You Know?

Graham's law underpinned early uranium isotope enrichment by gaseous diffusion.

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