Equal masses of nitrogen and oxygen (molecular masses about 28 and 32 respectively) are placed in two different containers having the same volume. The pressure of the gases in the two containers is the same. If the temperature of the oxygen is T₁, the temperature of the nitrogen is

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the ideal gas equation, PV = nRT, the temperature of a gas is directly proportional to its pressure and volume, and inversely proportional to its number of moles. In this case, the pressure and volume are the same for both gases, so the temperature of the gas with fewer moles (nitrogen) will be lower than the temperature of the gas with more moles (oxygen).

Equal Masses of Nitrogen and Oxygen (Molecular Masses About 28