The correct arrangement of gases in the order of increasing rate of diffusion is [H = 1, C = 12, N = 14, O = 16, S = 32]

Answer Details

According to Graham's law of diffusion, the rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass:

\[\text{Rate} \propto \frac{1}{\sqrt{M}}\]

This means lighter gases diffuse faster and heavier gases diffuse slower. To arrange gases in order of increasing rate of diffusion, we arrange them from heaviest (slowest) to lightest (fastest).

Calculate the molar masses of the gases that appear in the options:

Arranging from heaviest to lightest (i.e., increasing rate of diffusion):

SO₂ (64) → O₂ (32) → NH₃ (17) → H₂ (2)

This matches the sequence SO₂, O₂, NH₃, H₂. The heaviest gas (SO₂) diffuses most slowly, and the lightest gas (H₂) diffuses most rapidly.