Which balloon would have the most volume?

Question

If latex balloons are filled with the following gases and allowed to sit for two days, which balloon will have the most volume? Which would have the least volume? Rank them all in order of smallest to largest volume. Explain your reasoning.
a) H2 (molar mass = 2.0 g/mol) b) He (molar mass = 4.0 g/mol)
c) O2 (molar mass = 32.0 g/mol) d) N2 (molar mass = 28.0 g/mol)
e) CO2 (molar mass = 44.0 g/mol)

Answer 1

Gases will escape from each balloon by effusion.  This will occur over time.  The RATE of effusion is dependent on the molar mass of the gas.  The lower the molar mass, the faster it will effuse.  So, to rank the smallest volume to the largest volume, you should rank the gases from the FASTEST effusion to the SLOWEST effusion, of stated another way, from the lightest to the heaviest.

Smallest to largest volume of the balloons:  H2 < He < N2 < O2 < CO2