At room temperature, the rms speed of oxygen is approximately 500 m/s . At the same temperature, the rms speed of hydrogen is about

Step-by-step solution

The rms speed of a gas molecule is given by v_ rms = 3RT M At a constant temperature, v_ rms 1 M Taking the ratio of the rms speeds of hydrogen and oxygen: v_ H₂ v_ O₂ = M_ O₂ M_ H₂ Substituting the given values v_ O₂ = 500 m/s , M_ O₂ = 32 g/mol , and M_ H₂ = 2 g/mol : v_ H₂ 500 = 32 2 v_ H₂ 500 = 16 = 4 v_ H₂ = 500 4 = 2000 m/s