If oxygen effuses through an opening at a rate of 67 particles per second, how fast would effuses Hydrogen gas effuse through the same opening?

1 Answer
May 1, 2016

#268# particles per second.

Explanation:

Graham's law of effusion says that

#R_1/R_2=sqrt(M_2/M_1)#,

where #R# is the rate of effusion and #M# is the mass. The subscript number refers to either oxygen or hydrogen - it's a relative equation.

If we say that substance #1# is hydrogen and #2# is oxygen, then

#R_1=?#
#R_2=67#

#M_1=1#
#M_2=16#

(#M# values from the periodic table).

Putting these values into a rearranged equation,

#R_1=R_2*sqrt(M_2/M_1)#
#R_1=67*sqrt(16/1)=67*4=268#