Kinetic Theory - A gas mixture effuses through a hole, find the pressure change

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the kinetic theory of gases, specifically focusing on the effusion of a gas mixture through a hole and the resulting pressure change. Participants are exploring Dalton's law and the relationship between effusion rates and molecular weights of the gases involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Dalton's law and the effusion rate formula. There are attempts to derive expressions for the number density of gases over time and to relate these to pressure changes. Questions arise regarding the correct notation and the implications of molecular weight on effusion rates.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing guidance on notation and suggesting further exploration of the relationships between variables. Some participants express uncertainty about the validity of the initial proportions of gases and the implications for effusion rates. There is no explicit consensus, but various interpretations and approaches are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating potential confusion regarding the dimensions of variables and the assumptions about gas proportions in the mixture. The original poster's assumptions about the initial conditions and the behavior of the gases are under scrutiny.

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Homework Statement
So if you have a gas that is a combination of H##_2## and HD (hydrogen-hydrogen and hydrogen-deuterium) in the proportion of 7000:1, and it effuses through a hole at constant temp into a vacuum whereby the proportion changes to 700:1, what factor would the pressure have changed?
Relevant Equations
Daltons law

##p = n_1 K_B T##
Effusion rate: ##\frac{1}{4} n \bar{v}##
So I know Dalton's law as stated above which I think is applicable in this question. Then I know the effusion rate is ##\frac{1}{4} n \bar{v}##, and from this we can make a differential for the time evolution of the number density of the gas in the container which is:

##\frac{dn}{dt} = \frac{A}{\phi} = \frac{A}{4}n \bar{v}##

Therefore: ##\frac{dn}{n} = \frac{A\bar{v}}{4}dt##

As ##n = \frac{n_0}{v}##, then the solutions must be:

##n = n_0 e^{-\frac{At}{4}n}## for each of H##_2## and HD

I'm not sure if this is the right way to go about this, or how to link this to get a change in the factor of the pressure in the vessel?

Thank you
 
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Be careful with notation; you seem to be confusing volume and velocity with your v's, and n and N0 do not have the same dimensions as your last equation implies.

How does the effusion rate vary with the molecular weight? Can you get an expression for n(t) for each gas and proceed from there?
 
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mjc123 said:
Be careful with notation; you seem to be confusing volume and velocity with your v's, and n and N0 do not have the same dimensions as your last equation implies.

How does the effusion rate vary with the molecular weight? Can you get an expression for n(t) for each gas and proceed from there?

Hi sorry about that I've edited the original post because I accidentally capitalised a few letters.

From Graham's law, ##\frac{\phi_1}{\phi_2} = \sqrt{\frac{M_2}{M_1}}##

And then ##n = n_0 e^{-\frac{At}{4}}\bar{v}## for each gas?
 
And what is v bar (in terms of M)?
 
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mjc123 said:
And what is v bar (in terms of M)?

Wouldn't it just be ##\bar{v} = \sqrt{\frac{8K_B T}{\pi M}}## as it obeys the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution?
 
Yes. So as you want to compare the two gases, which only differ in their molecular weight, simplify it to
n = n0e-kt/√M where k is a constant you don't need to evaluate.
 
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mjc123 said:
Yes. So as you want to compare the two gases, which only differ in their molecular weight, simplify it to
n = n0e-kt/√M where k is a constant you don't need to evaluate.
Okay, so then do I evaluate this equation for both ##H_2## and HD each? I don't understand what I would put for ##n_0## and n for each one.
 
I don't know that the proportions that are given in the OP are valid. More ## H_2 ## than ## HD ## will show up in what effuses through. Perhaps I am missing something, but it doesn't look right to me.
Edit: Oh, I think I see it=the proportion in the original container changes to 700:1.
 
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Charles Link said:
I don't know that the proportions that are given in the OP are valid. More ## H_2 ## than ## HD ## will show up in what effuses through. Perhaps I am missing something, but it doesn't look right to me.

Isn't that what the proportions say? ##700 H_2## to 1 ##HD## atom - so there is more ##H_2##?
 
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Please see my edit to post 8.
 
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  • #11
I think post 6 has it right. To add some detail: ## n_1=n_{10}e^{-kt/\sqrt{2}} ##, and ## n_2=n_{20}e^{-kt/\sqrt{3}} ##.

There is then enough info to solve for ## kt ##, and to get the final pressure in terms of the initial pressure. Note that the pressure of the ## HD ## can be ignored for this last pressure calculation.
 

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