Question

At the same temperature, equimolar amounts of hydrogen and oxygen gas are released into a large container. The ratio of the rate of diffusion of the hydrogen molecules to that of the molecules of oxygen would be :

• A. 256 : 1
• B. 16 : 1
• C. 1 : 16
• D. 4 : 1
• E. 1 : 4

Answer 1

The correct option is D 4 : 1

The rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the square root of the molar mass.
$\frac{r_{H2}}{r_{O2}}=\sqrt{\frac{M_{O2}}{M_{H2}}}=\sqrt{\frac{32}{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{16}{1}}=\frac{4}{1}$