Exploring Gases

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Carbon Dioxide

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Propane

Nitrous Oxide

Helium Gas

Argon Gas

Oxygen Gas

Nitrogen Gas

Exploring Gases!

Nitrous Oxide - N2O

Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas. It is acolorless gas with a slightly sweet odor. Nitrous oxide is an essential component of anesthesia. This gas is used to help patients become relaxed during procedures, but does not put patients fully to sleep. To reverse the effects of nitrous oxide gas, pure oxygen gas is given to patients after a procedure. Nitrous oxide is also used as the propellant for canned whipped cream.

Helium Gas - He

Helium gas is abundant in the universe, but rare on Earth. Helium is a colorless gas that is non-toxic and non-flammable. Most people now helium to be used for balloons, as it is lighter than air and floats. Helium is used for much more than balloons. Helium gas is a vital component of fiber optic cables, which are used in technology such as television and WiFi. Helium gas is also used in medicine, as it is used to cool the magnets used in MRI scanners.

Oxygen Gas - O2

Oxygen gas is essential for the respiration of most living things. Humans and many other living things breathe it in, while it is a by-product of photosynthesis in plants. Oxygen gas makes up 21% of Earth's atmosphere. This gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Oxygen gas supports combustion and is required for fire. Oxygen gas is used in the manufacturing of steel and other metals. This gas is responsible for the green color of the aurora borealis.

Nitrogen Gas - N2

Nitrogen gas is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and inert gas. Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere, and is the 5th most abundant element in the solar system. Nitrogen gas is all around us. This gas is commonly used in portable fire extinguishers, as it is a fire suppressant.Nitrogen gas is responsible for the deep blue and red colors in the aurora borealis. The "air" found in sealed potato chip bags is nitrogen gas!

Propane - C3H8

Propane is a natural gas used for space and water heating. Propane is a colorless and odorless gas. Due to its use in households, an odor-additive is used to detect gas leaks. Propane is in cooking, to heat stoves and grills. The United States is the leading producer of propane, producing 90% of the gas. Propane is used to fuel farming equipment, as well as forlifts and other vehicles.

Argon Gas - Ar

Argon is a noble gas, meaning it is inert. This gas makes up 0.9% of the Earth's atmospere. Argon gas is used in fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs. Argon gas is an essential component of welding, responsible for stability and increasing the strength of a weld. This gas is colorless and odorless. The name "argon" is Greek for "lazy", used to describe how little this element forms compounds.

Carbon Dioxide - CO2

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is essential for trapping heat in our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is used by plants in photosynthesis, and is a product of respiration. Combustion, also known as burning, produced carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide is non-flammable, so it is used in fire extinguishers. Solid carbon dioxide is known as dry ice, due to its ability to go straight from the solid state to gas state.