The speed of sound in a medium depends on several factors, including the composition and physical properties of the medium. In the case of gases like oxygen and air, the speed of sound can vary due to their molecular composition and temperature.
Air is a mixture of different gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases. The speed of sound in air is primarily determined by the average molecular weight of the gases present and their ratio. The predominant gases in air are nitrogen (approximately 78%) and oxygen (approximately 21%). The molecular weight of nitrogen is slightly higher than that of oxygen, which means that the average molecular weight of air is slightly higher than that of pure oxygen. As a result, the speed of sound in air is slightly lower compared to the speed of sound in pure oxygen.
Another important factor affecting the speed of sound is temperature. In general, the speed of sound increases with an increase in temperature. This is because higher temperatures lead to an increase in the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules, resulting in faster molecular motion and collisions. Therefore, at the same temperature, the speed of sound in a gas like oxygen would be slightly higher compared to air due to the difference in molecular weight.
However, it's worth noting that the difference in the speed of sound between oxygen and air is relatively small and may not be noticeable in everyday situations. The exact values of the speed of sound in different gases can be calculated using the appropriate equations that take into account factors like molecular weight, temperature, and pressure.