Question

In a sample of air at 25 oC, the molecules of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide all move with
different average speeds.
Which of the following lists the molecules in order of decreasing average speed?

Answer 1

Answer:

Nitrogen>oxygen>carbondioxide

Explanation:

According to Graham's law of diffusion,the rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the vapour density of the molecule. Therefore the smaller the weight of the molecule the faster the rate of diffusion. Of the three elements nitrogen has the lowest vapour density followed by oxygen and carbondioxide with the highest. Therefore nitrogen will possess the greatest speed than the others.