Liquid water can be separated into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas through electrolysis. 1 mole of hydrogen gas and 0.5 moles of oxygen gas is produced from 1 mole of liquid water collected in separate 10 L containers at 1 atm. Will the temperatures of the gases be equal? In one to two sentences, use the ideal gas law to explain your answer.
1 answer
No, the temperatures of the gases will not be equal. According to the ideal gas law, gas temperature is directly proportional to the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules, and since hydrogen gas molecules have a lower molar mass than oxygen gas molecules, they will have a higher average kinetic energy and therefore a higher temperature.