Final answer:
The rate of gas effusion is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass. Among the given gases, chlorine has the highest molar mass and thus, would effuse the slowest according to Graham's Law of Effusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Rate of Effusion in Gases
The rate at which a gas effuses (escapes through a small hole into a vacuum) is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass, according to Graham's Law of Effusion. In the context of the provided options, the gas that would effuse the slowest would be the one with the highest molar mass, since heavier molecules move slower than lighter ones at a given temperature.
- Fluorine (F2) - Molar mass ~38 g/mol
- Chlorine (Cl2) - Molar mass ~71 g/mol
- Nitrogen (N2) - Molar mass ~28 g/mol
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) - Molar mass ~44 g/mol
Among these gases, chlorine (Cl2) has the highest molar mass and would effuse the slowest. This is because the heavier a molecule is, the slower its average velocity at a given temperature, leading to a slower rate of effusion.