Which of the following gases is the best choice for inflating a balloon that must remain inflated for a long period of time?

a) argon
b) hydrogen
c) neon
d) oxygen

It is A. Argon

Because it is the heaviest gas so we know it will not be seeping through the balloons walls if it is not hitting them as much as the lighter gases are.
Helium is the worst option for length in time because how light it is, that's why oxygen inflated balloons last longer.

The higher the molar mass the more trouble th gas has of getting out of the balloon. The smaller the molar mass.......the easier it is to escape.

So it's between Argon and Neon right?

and thank you for helping me

Why between Ar and Ne? Unless you are just eliminating O and H to concentrate on the other two. On my periodic table, I have the following:

Ar = about 40
Ne = about 20
O = about 32
H = about 2

all I know is that Nitrogen and Helium are the one; but these I do not know

To determine which gas is the best choice for inflating a balloon that needs to remain inflated for a long period of time, we need to consider a few factors.

The first factor to consider is the density of the gas. The lower the density of the gas, the longer it will stay inside the balloon.

The second factor is the diffusion rate of the gas. The slower the gas diffuses through the material of the balloon, the longer it will remain inflated.

Based on these factors, the best choice among the options listed would be option b) hydrogen. Hydrogen gas has the lowest density among the given options, meaning it will stay inside the balloon for a longer period of time compared to the other gases. Additionally, hydrogen has a relatively low diffusion rate, which further contributes to its ability to keep a balloon inflated for an extended period.

Please note that while hydrogen is the best choice in terms of the given options, it is important to handle hydrogen gas with caution as it is highly flammable.