Equal moles of hydrogen () and oxygen () gases are placed in a container with a pin-hole through whi — States of Matter and Gaseous State Chemistry Question
Question
Equal moles of hydrogen ($H_2$) and oxygen ($O_2$) gases are placed in a container with a pin-hole through which both can escape. What exact fraction of the original oxygen escapes in the time required for exactly one-half ($1/2$) of the hydrogen to escape?
Answer: A
💡 Solution & Explanation
Rate of effusion $r = \Delta n / \Delta t \propto 1/\sqrt{M}$. The ratio of moles escaped in the same time interval is $n_{O_2\_escaped} / n_{H_2\_escaped} = \sqrt{M_{H_2}/M_{O_2}} = \sqrt{2/32} = 1/4$. Since $n_{H_2\_escaped} = 0.5$ (one-half), $n_{O_2\_escaped} / 0.5 = 1/4 \implies n_{O_2\_escaped} = 1/8$.
💬Ask on WhatsApp →
Still have doubts about this question?
Send it to our AI chemistry tutor on WhatsApp — gets answered in minutes