Question

What is diffusion?

Answer 1

Hint: Gaseous particles are in continuous random motion. Gaseous particles have a habit of undergoing diffusion because of their kinetic energy. Diffusion is faster at higher temperatures because at high temperature the kinetic energy of gas molecules is high.

Complete step by step answer:
Diffusion is one of the physical properties of gases.
Diffusion is the process where gaseous atoms and molecules are moved from regions of comparatively high concentration to regions of comparatively low concentration.
Diffusion of gas is inversely proportional to the molecular weight of the gases.
Low molecular weight gases diffuse early than the high molecular weight gases.
Graham's Law of Diffusion:
The rate of diffusion of gases is inversely proportional to the square root of their densities.

\[\text{Rate of diffusion }\propto \text{ }\dfrac{\text{1}}{\sqrt{\text{density}}}\]

Two examples of diffusion in our daily life are
1. The smell of perfume, it diffuses into the air and makes its way into your nose.
2. The smoke released from cigarette diffuses into the air.

Note: Don’t be confused with the words diffusion and effusion. Both words are not the same.
Diffusion: Movement or passage of gas from high concentration to low concentration is called diffusion.
Effusion: Effusion states that the movement of gas particles through a small hole.
Example for effusion: Escape of gas molecules through a pinhole in a balloon
Comparatively, diffusion is faster at higher temperatures because the gas molecules have greater kinetic energy.