The oxygen molecules and the nitrogen molecules at any one place in our atmosphere are at the same temperature.How do the root-mean-square speeds of the two molecules compare? A)same B)N₂ O₂ C)O₂ N₂

Question

The oxygen molecules and the nitrogen molecules at any one place in our atmosphere are at the same temperature.How do the root-mean-square speeds of the two molecules compare? A)same B)N₂ > O₂ C)O₂ > N₂

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The root-mean-square speed of a gas molecule is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass. Since nitrogen (N2) has a lower molar mass than oxygen (O2), nitrogen molecules will have a higher root-mean-square speed at the same temperature.

The Oxygen Molecules and the Nitrogen Molecules at Any One