IChO 2003 · Theory problem 30

Gas velocity

The experiment described here gives a simple way to determine the mean velocity \(u\) of the molecules in the gas phase of a volatile liquid. A wide shallow container (a Petri dish) half filled with ethanol is placed on an electronic balance with its lid next to it and the balance is zeroed at time \(t = 0\). Balance readings are recorded as shown on the diagram.

Figure 1

At \(t = 5\) min the lid is placed over the dish. The liquid no longer evaporates, but the trapped molecules push against the lid, hence lowering the measurement of the balance by \(\delta m\). Therefore, the force exerted on the lid is \(f = \delta m\,g\). The force is also equal to the rate of change of the momentum of the evaporating molecules, i.e., \(f = \tfrac12 u\,\mathrm{d}m/\mathrm{d}t\). Using the data provided determine the mean velocity of ethanol molecules at 290 K. Assume \(g = 9.8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}\).

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 30. The mean molecular speed of ethanol at \(290\ \mathrm K\) is approximately \(\boxed{u = 3.4\times10^{2}\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}}\).

Solution

30. Ethanol, \(\ce{CH3CH2OH}\), has SMILES CCO.

The graph’s straight-line slope before the lid is placed gives the evaporation rate. The balance reading falls from \(0.000\ \mathrm g\) to approximately \(-0.175\ \mathrm g\) over \(5.0\ \mathrm{min}\). Taking the positive magnitude of the mass-loss rate,

\[ \dot m_{\mathrm{evap}} =\frac{0.175\ \mathrm g}{5.0\ \mathrm{min}} =0.035\ \mathrm{g\,min^{-1}} =\frac{0.035\times10^{-3}}{60}\ \mathrm{kg\,s^{-1}} =5.83\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{kg\,s^{-1}}. \]

At lid closure, the reading drops from approximately \(-0.175\ \mathrm g\) to \(-0.185\ \mathrm g\). Thus,

\[ \delta m=(-0.175)-(-0.185) =0.010\ \mathrm g =1.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{kg}. \]

Using the force relation supplied in the problem,

\[ f=\delta m\,g =(1.0\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm{kg}) (9.8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}) =9.8\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm N. \]

Equating this to the stated rate of momentum transfer,

\[ \delta m\,g=\frac12 u\,\dot m_{\mathrm{evap}}, \]

so

\[ u=\frac{2\delta m\,g}{\dot m_{\mathrm{evap}}} =\frac{2(9.8\times10^{-5}\ \mathrm N)} {5.83\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{kg\,s^{-1}}} =3.36\times10^2\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}. \]

To sensible precision for the graphical data, the mean molecular speed at \(290\ \mathrm K\) is

\[ \boxed{u\approx3.4\times10^2\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}}. \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.