Chemistry

Problem

Two identical

1.0\,\text{L}

rigid flasks are kept at an absolute temperature of

298\,\text{K}

. Flask A contains

2.0\,\text{g}

of molecular hydrogen (

\text{H}_2

), whereas Flask B contains

32.0\,\text{g}

of molecular oxygen (

\text{O}_2

). Both gases are ideal. A debate arises over which flask is at the higher pressure. (a) Calculate the ratio

P_A/P_B

of the absolute pressures in the two flasks. (b) Explain, without additional numerical work, why comparing the masses alone is insufficient to predict the relative pressures, making explicit reference to particle count and molecular mass.

Browse the problem library