If a gas is 16 times as heavy as hydrogen which will diffuse faster and by what ratio

1. Hydrogen will diffuse faster.

2. The ratio of diffusion of hydrogen gas to that of the unknown gas is 4 : 1

Explanation:

Let the rate of diffusion of hydrogen gas, H2 be R1

Let the molar mass of H2 be M1

Let the rate of diffusion of the unknown gas be R2.

Let the molar mass of the unknown gas be M2.

Molar mass of H2 (M1) = 2x1 = 2g/mol

Molar mass of unknown gas (M2) = 16 times that of H2

= 16 x 2 = 32g/mol

1. Determination of the gas that will diffuse faster. This is illustrated below:

R1/R2 = √ (M2/M1)

R1/R2 = √ (32/2)

R1/R2 = √16

R1/R2 = 4

Cross multiply

R1 = 4R2

From the above calculations, we can see that the rate of diffusion H2 (R1) is four times the rate of diffusion of the unknown gas (R2).

Therefore, hydrogen will diffuse faster.

2. Again, from the calculations made above, the ratio of diffusion of hydrogen (R1) to that of the unknown gas (R2) is given by;

R1/R2 = 4

Therefore, the ratio of diffusion of hydrogen (R1) to that of the unknown gas (R2) is:

4 : 1