Chapter 1, Problem 1B.2AE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The root-mean-square speeds of ${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}$ and ${\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ molecules at $2{\text{0 }}^{\text{ο}}\text{C}$ have to be calculated.

Concept introduction: The atoms or molecules of gases move in random directions at different speeds.  The way of finding the single value of speed for particles is root mean square speed or RMS speed.  The average speed of gas particle is calculated by using the root mean square speed formula,

    $v_{\text{rms}}={\left(\frac{3RT}{M}\right)}^{\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.}$