AP Chemistry › Effusion
Which of the following gases will have the highest rate of effusion?
Helium
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Carbon dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
The rate of effusion for a gas is inversely proportional to the square-root of its molecular mass (Graham's Law).
The gas with the lowest molecular weight will effuse the fastest.
Oxygen:
Nitrogen:
Carbon dioxide:
Sulfur dioxide:
Helium:
The lightest, and therefore fastest, gas is helium.
A 20cm tube holds two cotton balls, one in each end. The left cotton ball is saturated with undiluted HCl. The right cotton ball is soaked in an undiluted mystery compound. Vapors from the two cotton balls are allowed to mix within the tube.
Let us assume that the two compounds form a precipitate in the tube 6cm to the left of the right cotton ball. What is the molar mass of the mystery compound?
This question is notably difficult, as it may not be immediately apparent what concept is being tested. As the vapors of the compounds mix and react, we are able to establish the distance the each vapor has traveled from the cotton ball into the tube in the given amount of time. The tube is 20cm, and the reaction takes place 6cm from the mystery compound cotton ball. From this, we can establish that in an equal amount of time the HCl vapor traveled 14cm and the mystery compound traveled 6cm.
In order to solve this problem, we use Graham's law to compare molar masses to the rates of diffusion of the two gases.
Since HCl moved 14cm to the right before interacting with the mystery compound, we know that the mystery compound moved only 6cm to the left. As a result, the diffusion ratio is 2.33.
Now, we need to find the square root of the inversed molar masses, which equals this diffusion ratio.
So, the molar mass of the mystery compound is 198 grams per mole. This makes sense, because larger gases will move more slowly compared to lighter gases.
At the same temperature, an unknown gas effuses at a rate that is times that of oxygen. Find the molar mass, in grams per mole, of the unknown gas.
Recall Graham's Law of Effusion for two gases, A and B:
From the equation, we know the following:
Thus, we can solve for the molar mass of the unknown gas. Let be the molar mass of the unknown gas.
Make sure that your answer has significant figures.
Which of the following is a true statement with regards to the relative effusion rates of oxygen and carbon dioxide?
Oxygen will effuse faster than carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide will effuse faster than oxygen
Oxygen will effuse faster than carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide will effuse faster than oxygen
Cannot be determined from the given information.
We're being asked to compare the effusion rates of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Remember that effusion is the spontaneous movement of a gas through a small hole from one area to another. It's worth noting that at a given temperature, the average speed of all gas molecules in a system is used to calculate the average kinetic energy of the gas particles. This dependence of kinetic energy on temperature means that at a given temperature, any gas particle will have the same kinetic energy.
In this case, we can say that the kinetic energy of oxygen molecules in one system is equal to the kinetic energy of carbon dioxide molecules in another system. Furthermore, since mass is inversely proportional to velocity, identical kinetic energies would mean that as the mass of the gas particles in a system decreases, their velocity (and thus, effusion rates) would increase.
We can use this information to solve for the relative effusion rates between oxygen and carbon dioxide. By setting their kinetic energies equal to each other, we can derive an expression that relates their relative speeds to their relative masses.
Generally speaking, this expression shows how the velocity of any two gasses depends on their mass. In this case, the gasses are oxygen and carbon dioxide.
We can use the periodic table of the elements to find out the mass of each gas, and use that information to calculate the relative effusion rates.
This shows that oxygen will effuse at a rate that is about faster than carbon dioxide.
A sample of Ne(g) effusses through a tiny hole in 60.7 s. An unknown gas, under identical conditions, effusses in 45.6 s.
What is the molar mass of the unknown gas?
To solve this problem use Graham's Law of Effusion
By plugging in the values we can rewrite the equation as
Suppose that gas A effuses at a rate that is twice that of gas B. If the mass of gas A is halved and the mass of gas B is doubled, which of the following correctly describes the new relative effusion rates of these two gasses?
Gas A will now effuse at a rate times that of gas B
Gas A will now effuse at a rate times that of gas B
Gas B will now effuse at a rate times that of gas A
Gas B will now effuse at a rate times that of gas A
For this question, we're given the relative effusion rates for two gasses. We're then told how the mass of each of these gasses is changed, and then we're asked to determine the new relative effusion rates of the two gasses.
First, we can recall the expression that describes the dependence of the effusion rates of two gasses on their mass. Since we're told that the rate of gas A is twice that of gas B, we can write the following expression.
Furthermore, since we're told that the mass of gas B is doubled and the mass of gas A is halved, we can determine how the rate will change.
Thus, we can see that the rate will change by a factor of two. Hence, the new rate will be . Thus, gas A will now effuse at a rate
times that of gas B.
A mixture of neon gas and argon gas is present in a container (container A). There are equal amounts of both gases in the container. A small pinhole is created in the container, allowing the gases to effuse into an empty container (container B). The effusion time is very brief, and the pinhole is eventually plugged, resulting in a mixture of both gases in both containers.
Which of the following statements is true after the pinhole is plugged?
The partial pressure for argon is greater than the partial pressure for neon in container A
Container B will contain twice as many neon atoms as argon atoms
Both gases will have equal partial pressures in container A
Container B will contain twice as many argon atoms as neon atoms
The rate of effusion for two gases can be compared to one another using the following equation:
Here, the effusion rates are inversely proportional to the square root of the molecular masses of the gases in question. Because the relationship is to the square roots of the molecular masses, we will not observe a 2:1 ratio of effusion for neon compared to argon.
We will, however, see that more neon effuses out of container A compared to the amount of argon because neon is the lighter gas and will thus have a faster effusion rate. As a result, there will be more argon than neon in container A after the pinhole is plugged. This results in argon having a larger partial pressure than neon in container A.
A glass box holds equal amounts of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and bromine. The gases are allowed to exit the container through a tiny hole. Which gas will exit the hole the fastest?
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Bromine
They all exit at the same rate because the temperature is constant
At a particular temperature, the average kinetic energy of all gaseous molecules is equal. Since hydrogen gas has the lowest mass out of these gases, it will have the highest average velocity. This means that it will exit out of the tiny hole at a rate faster than the other gases. Conversely, bromine, which has the most mass compared to the other gases, will exit the hole the slowest.
This relationship is mathematically represented in Graham's law:
As the mass increases, the rate of effusion decreases.
Molecule A has twice the mass of molecule B. A sample of each molecule is released into separate, identical containers. Which compound will have a higher rate of diffusion?
Molecule B
Molecule A
They will have identical rates of diffusion
There is not enough information to determine relative rates of diffusion
Molecule A would have a faster initial rate; both molecules would reach an equal final rate
According to Graham's law, the rate of diffusion of a gas molecule is inversely proportional to the root square of that molecule's mass. Because molecule B has a smaller mass than molecule A, it will have a higher rate of diffusion.
Note: this also applies to finding the rate of effusion.
A mixture of neon gas and argon gas is present in a container (container A). There are equal amounts of both gases in the container. A small pinhole is created in the container, allowing the gases to effuse into an empty container (container B). The effusion time is very brief, and the pinhole is eventually plugged, resulting in a mixture of both gases in both containers.
Suppose that after the pinhole is plugged, there are 100 argon atoms in container B. Approximately how many neon atoms would you predict to be in container B?
We can compare the effusion rates of these gases using the following equation.
By calling neon "gas 1" and argon "gas 2," we can compare the effusion rates of the two gases by plugging their molecular masses into the equation.
This proportion is equal to the rate of neon effusion over the rate of argon effusion, giving the ratio of neon atoms to argon atoms in container B.
As a result, 141 atoms of neon gas will effuse out of the pinhole for every 100 argon gas atoms. Keep in mind that the heavier gas will effuse at a slower rate than the lighter gas; thus, we would expect there to be more neon than argon in container B.