Problem: The following graph shows the distribution of molecular velocities for two different molecules (A and B) at the same temperature.Which molecule has the higher molar mass?

FREE Expert Solution

Recall that the molecular speed of a gas is given by:

mol. speed=3RTM


where R = gas constant, T = temperature, and M = molar mass of the gas.


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Problem Details

A line graph with the molecular velocity measured in meters per second on the x axis, and the relative number of molecules on the y axis. Line A increases sharply and peaks at about five hundred, then approaches zero by fifteen hundred. Line B increases at a slower rate, reaching a peak about as half as high as that of A at approximately twelve fifty meters per second. Line B approaches zero at about twenty-five hundred.

The following graph shows the distribution of molecular velocities for two different molecules (A and B) at the same temperature.

Which molecule has the higher molar mass?

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