Table of Contents
- 1 What elements are possible alternatives for helium and nitrogen which can be used in scuba tanks?
- 2 Why is oxygen mixed with helium used by sea divers?
- 3 What can you use instead of helium for balloons?
- 4 What is mixed gas diving?
- 5 Which gas mixture is used by divers to prevent oxygen toxicity?
- 6 Why is helium used in dividing apparatus?
What elements are possible alternatives for helium and nitrogen which can be used in scuba tanks?
Argon can be used instead of Helium and is preferred for certain types of metal. Helium is used for lots of lighter than air applications and Hydrogen is a suitable replacement for many where the flammable nature of Hydrogen is not an issue.
Why is argon used in diving tanks?
Argon serves as a better insulator than air. By filling the dry suit with argon the diver replaces the thinner, more compressible air with denser gas that does not compress nearly as much under a given pressure. This is a very advantageous concept for the dry suit diver.
Why is oxygen mixed with helium used by sea divers?
In some dives, both nitrogen and oxygen can induce a state similar to drunkenness. Adding helium to the mix reduces this so divers can think more clearly. Using helium can also mean divers can take fewer stops on their return to the surface, without suffering decompression sickness.
Why does helium is diluted in tanks used by scuba divers?
The main reason for adding helium to the breathing mix is to reduce the proportions of nitrogen and oxygen below those of air, to allow the gas mix to be breathed safely on deep dives. A lower proportion of oxygen reduces the risk of oxygen toxicity on deep dives.
What can you use instead of helium for balloons?
Because Helium gas is lighter than air, but it is not the only gas we can fill the balloon, we may use hydrogen gas as well. The density of hydrogen gas is 1/2th of the mass of helium gas so we can consider it to make a floating balloon. Air can also be used to fill the balloon.
Can you artificially make helium?
Helium is all over the universe—it’s the second-most abundant element. But on Earth, it’s much less common. It can’t be artificially produced and must be extracted from natural gas wells.
What is mixed gas diving?
Gas blending for scuba diving (or gas mixing) is the filling of diving cylinders with non-air breathing gases such as nitrox, trimix and heliox. The concentration of inert gases, such as nitrogen and helium, are planned and checked to avoid nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness.
Is helium used in scuba diver tank?
For normal, no decompression dives, helium is not used in scuba tanks, just normal air( 21\% Oxygen and 79\% Nitrogen). Beyond 190 and 220 feet oxygen will become toxic, resulting in sensory distortions and seizures. Helium is used to dilute the oxygen and nitrogen to reduce these affects.
Which gas mixture is used by divers to prevent oxygen toxicity?
Trimix is a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and helium and is often used at depth in technical diving and commercial diving instead of air to reduce nitrogen narcosis and to avoid the dangers of oxygen toxicity.
Why helium is used in diving equipment?
Helium along with oxygen is used in the diving apparatus by the sea divers. Since it is very little soluble in blood, it reduces decompression and causes less discomfort to the diver in breathing.
Why is helium used in dividing apparatus?
Why is helium used in dividing apparatus? Because helium has low solubility (as compared to N2) in blood, a mixture of oxygen and helium is used in diving apparatus used by deep sea divers.