Question

Which property of gases allows you to smell popcorn when you walk into a movie theater?

Answer 1

Gasses contain highly energetic particles which tend to spread out to fill the room/ container they are in. Often when a smell rises, there is a high concentration of gas molecules in the rising smell. Here diffusion occurs where the molecules spread out randomly moving from an area of high concentration of gas molecules to areas of low gas molecules.  

Answer 2

Answer:  

The correct answer is diffusion.  

Explanation:  

Diffusion refers to the net movements of atoms or molecules from a place of high chemical potential or higher concentration to a place of low chemical potential or lower concentration. Diffusion takes place due to a gradient in chemical potential of the diffusing species.  

One smells popcorn after walking into a movie theater is because of the phenomenon of diffusion. The smells travel in the air by diffusion. As molecules are always traveling, the tiny molecules from popcorn travel through the air all through the theater and enter into the noses.