Question

Which molecule would diffuse faster So, or SO,? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

SO would diffuse faster than SO2 because SO2 has a greater molecular mass which causes it to diffuse more slowly. Lighter molecules, such as SO, diffuse at a quicker rate due to their faster average molecular speed at a given temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asked which molecule would diffuse faster, SO or SO2. Considering the mass of the molecules involved in diffusion, lighter molecules tend to move more quickly than heavier ones. This is because the average molecular speed at a given temperature is inversely proportional to molecular mass. Diffusion constants, denoted by D, decrease as the mass of a molecule increases, hence heavier molecules diffuse more slowly. SO2 has a molecular mass greater than SO due to the additional oxygen atom, therefore it will diffuse more slowly compared to SO.

The rate of diffusion also depends on factors such as temperature, where an increase in temperature will lead to an increase in molecular speed and, therefore, a faster diffusion rate. Additionally, the extent of the concentration gradient and solvent density can influence diffusion rates.

Answer 2

The given question is incomplete. The complete question is:

Which molecule would diffuse faster
`SO_2`, or
`SO_3`,? Explain your reasoning.

Answer:
`SO_2` will diffuse faster as it has low molecuklar weight.

Step-by-step explanation:

From Graham's law of diffusion rates, the rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass.

`Rate\propto \sqrt(1)/(M)`

or
`(Rate_1)/(Rate_2)\propto \sqrt(M_2)/(M_1)`

Molecular mass of
`SO_2` is 64 g/mol and Molecular mass of
`SO_3` is 80 g/mol

Thus as molecular mass of is less , it will diffuse faster.