To solve this question, we will use Graham's law which states that: (R1 / R2) ^ 2 = M2 / M1 where R1 and R2 are the rates of effusion and M1 and M2 are the molar masses of the two gases. From the periodic table, we can calculate the molar mass of O2 as follows: molar mass of O2 = 2*16 = 32 grams
Therefore we have: R1 / R2 = Ry / RO2 = 1/2 M1 is My we want to get M2 is molar mass of O2 = 32 grams Substitute in the above equation to get the molar mass of y as follows: (1/2) ^2 = (32/My) 1/4 = 32/My My = 32*4 = 128
I think eventually other organisms will die out as well because many herbivores feed on plants for survival, and many other animals feed on these herbivores for survival and so on (this causes a chain reaction because there is a lack of available food)<span />