Answer:
Chlorine gas (Cl₂)
Step-by-step explanation:
- According to the Graham's law of diffusion, the diffusion rate of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its density or molar mass.
- Therefore, a lighter gas will diffuse faster at a given temperature compared to a heavy gas.
- Consequently, the heavier a gas is then the denser it is and the slower it diffuses at a given temperature and vice versa.
In this case we are given gases, CI₂
, H₂,He and Ne.
- We are required to identify the gas that will diffuse at the slowest rate.
- In other words we are required to determine the heaviest gas.
Looking at the molar mass of the gases given;
Cl₂- 70.91 g/mol
H₂- 2.02 g/mol
He - 4.00 g/mol
Ne- 20.18 g/mol
Therefore, chlorine gas is the heaviest and thus will diffuse at the slowest rate among the choices given.