Did you know that air is a mixture of gases? Gas composition of air

Air is an indispensable condition for the life of an overwhelming number of organisms on our planet.

Without food a person can live a month. Without water, three days. Without air - just a few minutes.

History of research

Not everyone knows that the main component of our life activity is a very heterogeneous substance. Air is a mixture of gases. Which ones?

For a long time it was believed that air is a single substance, not a mixture of gases. Hypothesis of heterogeneity appeared in scientific works of many scientists at different times. But no further theoretical guesses were made. Only in the eighteenth century the Scottish chemist Joseph Black experimentally proved that the gas composition of the air is not uniform. The discovery was made during the next experiments.

Modern scientists have proved that air is a mixture of gases, consisting of ten basic elements.

The composition differs depending on the site of concentration. Determination of the composition of air occurs continuously. The health of people depends on this. Air - a mixture of what gases?

On the hills (especially in the mountains) a small amount of oxygen. This concentration is called "thin air". In the forests, on the contrary, the oxygen content is maximal. In megacities, the content of carbon dioxide is increased. Determination of air composition is one of the most important responsibilities of environmental services.

Where can air be used?

• The compressed mass is used when injecting air under pressure. Installation of up to ten bars is installed at any tire fitting station. The air is pumped up by tires.
• Workers use jackhammers, pneumatic pistols for quick removal / installation of nuts and bolts. Such equipment is characterized by low weight and high efficiency.
• In industries using varnishes and paints, compressed air is used to accelerate the drying process.
• At car washes compressed air mass helps in quick drying of cars;
• Production plants use compressed air when cleaning tools from any type of contamination. In the woodworking industry, in this way, whole hangars can be cleaned of shavings and sawdust.
• The petrochemical industry is no longer represented without piping equipment before the first start-up.
• In the production of oxides and acids.
• To increase the temperature of technological processes;
• From the air, inert gases are extracted;

Why do we need air to living beings

The main task of air, or rather, one of the main components - oxygen - to penetrate into cells, thereby contributing to oxidation processes. Thanks to this, the body receives energy vital for life.

Air enters the body through the lungs, after which it is distributed through the body through the circulatory system.

Air - a mixture of what gases ?. Let us consider them in more detail.

Nitrogen

Air is a mixture of gases, the first of which is nitrogen. The seventh element of the periodic system of Dmitry Mendeleyev. The discoverer is the Scottish chemist Daniel Rutherford in 1772.

It is part of the proteins and nucleic acids of the human body. Although its share in the cells is not high - no more than three percent, gas is essential for normal functioning.

In the air, its content is more than seventy-eight percent.

Under normal conditions, it does not have color and odor. Does not come into contact with other chemical elements.

The greatest amount of nitrogen is used in the chemical industry, primarily in the manufacture of fertilizers.

Nitrogen is used in the medical industry, in the manufacture of dyes, explosives.

In cosmetology, with the help of gas, acne, scars, warts, and the body's thermoregulatory system are treated.

Using nitrogen, ammonia is synthesized, nitric acid is produced.

When gas and oil are extracted with nitrogen, the pressure between the layers is maintained. When drilling new wells, gas allows the fluid to flow.

In the mining industry, nitrogen is used to extinguish hard-to-reach fires. In metallurgy and coke-chemical industries - to strengthen materials and improve cementation.

In the electronics industry - for the oxidation of semiconductors and electrical circuits.

Used for purging and testing pipelines.

Liquid nitrogen is used as a coolant. This gas is pumped by the chassis of aircraft and the wheels of conventional cars. The annual production of nitrogen exceeds seventy million tons.

Gas has become widespread due to its unique properties and relative cheapness.

Cylinders with nitrogen - black with yellow markings.

Oxygen

Air is a mixture of gases, the second of which in percentage is oxygen. The eighth element of the Mendeleyev periodic system. Gas without color and smell. The discovery is attributed to the English scientist Joseph Priestley in 1774.

In the air, it takes twenty-one percent. It is present in the cells of absolutely all living things, plants and microorganisms.

The source of origin is the atmosphere of our planet.

Metallurgical enterprises use pure oxygen to remove harmful impurities in the casting of steel, as well as to increase the combustion temperature.

Gas is used for welding metals and gas cutting. Cylinders with oxygen are blue.

In the aviation industry - as an oxidant for rocket fuel.

In medicine - in anesthesia, fighting with asthma and bronchial asthma, with breathing disorders, decompression sickness.

In the chemical industry, oxygen is used for the oxidation of hydrocarbons in alcohols, acids, aldehydes, the production of nitric acid.

Fish industry - oxygenation of water bodies.

But the greatest value is for living beings. With the help of oxygen, the body can utilize (oxidize) the necessary proteins, fats and carbohydrates, turning them into the necessary energy.

Argon

Gas, which is part of the air, is in third place in importance - argon. The content does not exceed one percent. It is an inert gas without color, taste and smell. The eighteenth element of the periodic table.

The first mention is attributed to the English chemist Henry Cavendish in 1785. And Lord Lary and William Ramsay received the Nobel Prizes for proving the existence of gas and experiments with it.

Areas of application of argon:

• incandescent lamps;
• Filling the space between the windows in plastic windows;
• Protective medium during welding;
• Fire extinguishing means;
• For air purification;
• Chemical synthesis.

The human body does not bring much benefit. At a high concentration of gas leads to strangulation.

Cylinders with argon gray or black.

The remaining seven elements are 0.03% in air.

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide in the air is colorless and odorless.

It is formed due to rotting or burning of organic materials, it is released during breathing and work of cars and other transport.

In the human body is formed in tissues due to the processes of vital activity and is transported through the venous system into the lungs.

Has a positive value, because When the load expands the capillaries, which allows for greater transport of substances. Positively affects the myocardium. Promotes increased frequency and load force. Used to correct hypoxia. Participates in the regulation of breathing.

In industry, carbon dioxide is derived from combustion products, as a by-product of chemical processes or when air is separated.

The application is extremely wide:

• Preservative in the food industry;
• Beverage saturation;
• Fire extinguishers and fire extinguishing systems;
• Top dressing of aquarium plants;
• Protective medium during welding;
• Application in cans for gas weapons;
• Refrigerant.

Neon

Air is a mixture of gases, the fifth of which is neon. It was opened much later - in 1898. The name is translated from Greek as "new".

A monatomic gas that does not have color and odor.

Has a high electrical conductivity. Has a complete electronic shell. Inerten.

The gas is produced by air separation.

Application:

• An inert environment in industry;
• Refrigerant in cryogenic installations;
• Filler gas discharge lamps. Has found wide application due to advertising. Most of the colored signage is made with the help of neon. When the electric discharge is passed, the lamps give a bright color glow.
• Signal lights on lighthouses and airfields. Well-proven in strong fogs.
• Element of an air mixture for people working with high pressure.

Helium

Helium is a monoatomic gas without color and odor.

Application:

• Like neon, when you pass an electric discharge gives a bright light.
• In industry - to remove impurities from steel during smelting;
• Refrigerant.
• Filling of airships and balloons;
• Partly in mixtures for breathing during deep immersions.
• Heat carrier in nuclear reactors.
• The main children's joy is flying balloons.

For living organisms is of no particular use. In high concentrations can cause poisoning.

Methane

Air is a mixture of gases, the seventh of which is methane. Gas without color and smell. In high concentrations, it is explosive. Therefore, odorants are added to display it.

It is used most often as fuel and raw materials in organic synthesis.

Home furnaces, boilers, gas columns work mainly on methane.

Product of vital activity of microorganisms.

Krypton

Krypton is an inert monatomic gas without color and odor.

Application:

• In the production of lasers;
• Oxidizer of rocket fuel;
• Filling of incandescent lamps.

Influence on the human body has been studied little. The application is being studied for deep-water dives.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a colorless flammable gas.

Application:

• The chemical industry is the production of ammonia, soap, and plastics.
• Filling of spherical shells in meteorology.
• Rocket fuel.
• Cooling of electric generators.

Xenon

Xenon is a monatomic colorless gas.

Application:

• Filling of incandescent lamps;
• In the engines of space vehicles;
• As an anesthesia.

For the human body is harmless. Special benefit is not.