What is the rate of effusion of N_2(g) in relation to that of Cl_2(g) under the same conditions?
1 Answer
Well, this could be determined from root-mean-square speeds.
upsilon_(RMS) = sqrt((3RT)/M) ,
where
Taking the ratio of
upsilon_(RMS,N_2)/(upsilon_(RMS,Cl_2)) = (sqrt(cancel(3RT)/M_(N_2)))/(sqrt(cancel(3RT)/M_(Cl_2))) prop r_(N_2)/(r_(Cl_2)) where
r_i is the rate of effusion of gasi .
Thus:
r_(N_2)/(r_(Cl_2)) = sqrt(M_(Cl_2)/(M_(N_2)))
or, more generally,
bb(r_(A)/(r_(B)) = sqrt(M_(B)/(M_(A))))
In this equation, it does not matter what units of molar mass you use, as long as they are the same on the righthand side numerator as in the denominator.
Thus, the rate of effusion of
color(blue)(r_(N_2)/(r_(Cl_2))) = sqrt((35.453*2)/(14.007*2))
= color(blue)(1.59)
So, gaseous nitrogen molecule effuses about 1.59 times as quickly as gaseous chlorine molecule. This should make sense because nitrogen is lighter.