Gas Diffusion: Understanding the Flow of Helium

What will occur if chambers A and B are connected by a tube?

A. Some helium will move from chamber A to chamber B

B. Some helium will move from chamber B to chamber A

C. Helium will remain concentrated in chamber A

D. All of the helium will move into chamber B

Answer:

The higher concentration of helium in Chamber A will lead to a net flow of helium to Chamber B due to the process of diffusion. This will continue until both chambers achieve an equal concentration of helium. The correct option is A.

Gas diffusion involves the movement of gas molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In this scenario, where Chamber A contains 60% helium and Chamber B contains 40% helium, the gas molecules will naturally flow from Chamber A to Chamber B through the connecting tube.

This movement happens because the helium molecules in Chamber A are more concentrated than in Chamber B. The process of diffusion seeks to equalize the concentration of gas molecules in both chambers. As a result, helium will continue to move from Chamber A to Chamber B until an equilibrium concentration of 50% is reached in both chambers.

While the net flow of helium occurs from A to B, individual molecules still move randomly between the chambers even after equilibrium is achieved. This means that gas molecules will constantly be in motion between the two chambers, but overall, the concentrations will remain the same.

Understanding the principles of diffusion is crucial in various scientific fields, including chemistry and biology. It plays a significant role in how gases, liquids, and even particles spread and mix in different environments.