Is the average speed for any nitrogen molecule 422 meters per second?

Question

Ok. TIL that a random moving particle of nitrogen in air moves at 422 meters per second.

Folks, that's 944 mph, and about 80 m/s faster than the speed of sound.

So is that correct?

Answer 1

Yes, I think it's mor eor less correct. Check out molecular effusion. A 1996 web page by Michael Blaber puts it at 515 m/s at 25°C.

Answer 2

It depends on the temperature of the molecule's surrounding (the higher the temperature, the higher the speed of the molecule). Around room temperature the most probable speed of a nitrogen molecule is around 420 m/s.

EDIT: It's also important to note that sound is transmitted through air with the collision of particles. So it makes sense that a nitrogen particle would travel faster than the speed of sound.