Final answer:
The relative rate of diffusion of hydrogen to oxygen can be calculated using Graham's Law, which indicates that hydrogen diffuses four times faster than oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Relative Rate of Diffusion
To compute the relative rate of diffusion between different gases, we apply Graham's Law of Effusion. This law states that the rate of effusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass. Therefore, for hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂), we can calculate the ratio of their rates of diffusion based on their molar masses:
- Hydrogen (H₂) molar mass = 2.0 g/mol
- Oxygen (O₂) molar mass = 32.0 g/mol
According to Graham's Law, the relative rate of diffusion of hydrogen to oxygen is given by the equation:
Rate of diffusion of H₂ / Rate of diffusion of O₂ = √(Molar mass of O₂ / Molar mass of H₂)
√(32 / 2) = √16 = 4. Therefore, hydrogen diffuses at a rate 4 times faster than oxygen.