Air is an essential condition for the life of an overwhelming number of organisms on our planet.
Without food, a person can live a month. Three days without water. Without air - just a few minutes.
Research history
Not everyone knows that the main component of our life is an extremely heterogeneous substance. Air is a mixture of gases. Which ones?
For a long time it was believed that air is a single substance, and not a mixture of gases. The heterogeneity hypothesis appeared in the scientific works of many scientists at different times. But nobody advanced further than theoretical guesses. Only in the eighteenth century did the Scottish chemist Joseph Black experimentally prove that the gas composition of the air is heterogeneous. The discovery was made during the next experiments.
Modern scientists have proven that air is a mixture of gases, consisting of ten basic elements.
The composition differs depending on the place of concentration. The determination of the composition of air is ongoing. The health of people depends on it. Air - a mixture of which gases?
On hills (especially in the mountains) low oxygen content. This concentration is called "rarefied air." In forests, on the contrary, the oxygen content is maximum. In megacities, the content of carbon dioxide is increased. Determining the composition of air is one of the most important responsibilities of environmental services.
Where can I use air
- The compressed mass is used when pumping air under pressure. Installing up to ten bars is installed at any tire fitting station. Tire is inflated with air.
- Workers use jackhammers, pneumatic guns 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 speed up the drying process.
- At car washes, compressed air mass helps in quick drying of cars;
- Industrial enterprises use compressed air when cleaning tools from any kind of pollution. In the woodworking industry , whole hangars can thus be removed from shavings and sawdust.
- The petrochemical industry is no longer without the equipment for blowing pipelines before the first launch.
- In the production of oxides and acids.
- To increase the temperature of technological processes;
- Inert gases are extracted from the air;
Why air is needed for living things
The main task of air, or rather, one of the main components - oxygen - to penetrate into the cells, as a result of which to promote the oxidation processes. Thanks to this, the body receives the most important energy for life.
Air enters the body through the lungs, after which it is distributed throughout the body using the circulatory system.
Air - a mixture of what gases ?. Let's 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 Mendeleev. The Scottish chemist Daniel Rutherford in 1772 is considered the discoverer.
It is part of the proteins and nucleic acids of the human body. Although its proportion in the cells is small - no more than three percent, gas is essential for normal life.
In the composition of air, its content is more than seventy-eight percent.
Under normal conditions it is colorless and odorless. It does not enter into compounds with other chemical elements.
The largest 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, acne, scars, warts, and the body's thermoregulation system are treated with gas.
Using nitrogen, ammonia is synthesized, nitric acid is made.
During the production of gas and oil by nitrogen, the pressure between the layers is maintained. When drilling new wells, gas allows fluid to gush.
In the mining industry, nitrogen is used to extinguish hard-to-reach fire sources. In metallurgy and coke and 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 refrigerant. This gas pumped the landing gear and wheels of ordinary cars. Annual nitrogen production exceeds seventy million tons.
Gas is widely used due to its unique properties and relative cheapness.
Nitrogen cylinders - black with yellow marking.
Oxygen
Air is a mixture of gases, the second of which in percentage terms is oxygen. The eighth element of the periodic table. Gas without color and odor. The discovery is attributed to the English scientist Joseph Priestley in 1774.
The composition of the air takes twenty-one percent. It is present in the composition of the cells of absolutely all living creatures, plants and microorganisms.
The source of origin is the atmosphere of our planet.
Metallurgical enterprises use pure oxygen to remove harmful impurities when casting steel, as well as to increase the combustion temperature.
Gas is used for welding metals and gas cutting. Oxygen cylinders are blue.
In the aviation industry, as an oxidizing agent for rocket fuel.
In medicine - with anesthesia, the fight against bronchial asthma and hypoxia, with respiratory disorders, decompression sickness.
In the chemical industry, oxygen is used to oxidize hydrocarbons in alcohols, acids, aldehydes, and the production of nitric acid.
Fishing industry - oxygen saturation of water bodies.
But the most important gas is for living things. 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. Content does not exceed one percent. It is an inert gas without color, taste or smell. The eighteenth element of the periodic table.
The first mention is attributed to the English chemist Henry Cavendish in 1785. And Lord Larey and William Ramsay received Nobel Prizes for proving the existence of gas and experiments with it.
Applications for argon:
- incandescent lamps;
- filling the space between the glasses in plastic windows;
- protective environment during welding;
- fire extinguishing agent;
- for air purification;
- chemical synthesis.
The human body does not bring much benefit. At high gas concentrations, suffocation.
Gray or black argon cylinders.
The remaining seven elements make up 0.03% in air.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide in the air is colorless and odorless.
It is formed as a result of rotting or burning of organic materials, it is released during breathing and operation of cars and other vehicles.
In the human body, it is formed in tissues due to vital processes and is transferred through the venous system to the lungs.
It has a positive meaning, as under loads, it expands the capillaries, which provides the possibility of greater transport of substances. It has a positive effect on the myocardium. Helps to increase the frequency and strength of the load. Used in the correction of hypoxia. Participates in the regulation of respiration.
In industry, carbon dioxide is obtained from combustion products as a by-product of chemical processes or in the separation of air.
The application is extremely wide:
- preservative in the food industry;
- beverage saturation;
- fire extinguishers and fire extinguishing systems;
- top dressing of aquarium plants;
- protective environment during welding;
- use in cans for gas weapons;
- refrigerant.
Neon
Air is a mixture of gases, the fifth of which is neon. It was discovered much later - in 1898. The name translates from Greek as "new."
A monatomic gas that is colorless and odorless.
It has high electrical conductivity. Has a complete electronic shell. Inert.
Gas is obtained by air separation.
Application:
- Inert environment in industry;
- Refrigerant in cryogenic plants;
- Filler for discharge lamps. Found wide application thanks to advertising. Most of the color signs are made using neon. When transmitting an electric discharge, the lamps give a bright colored glow.
- Signal lights at lighthouses and airfields. Well established in heavy fogs.
- Element of the air mixture for people working with high pressure.
Helium
Helium is a monatomic gas without color and odor.
Application:
- Like neon, when passing an electric discharge it gives a bright light.
- In industry - to remove impurities from steel during smelting;
- Refrigerant.
- Filling airships and balloons;
- Partially in breathing mixtures with deep dives.
- The coolant in nuclear reactors.
- The main children's joy is flying balloons.
For living organisms is not particularly useful. High concentrations can cause poisoning.
Methane
Air is a mixture of gases, the seventh of which is methane. Gas without color and odor. In high concentrations, explosive. Therefore, for indication, odorants are added to it.
It is used most often as fuel and raw materials in organic synthesis.
Home stoves, boilers, gas water heaters operate primarily on methane.
The product of the vital activity of microorganisms.
Krypton
Krypton is an inert monatomic gas without color and odor.
Application:
- in the manufacture of lasers;
- propellant oxidizer;
- filling incandescent lamps.
The effect on the human body has been little studied. The application for deep diving is being studied.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a colorless combustible gas.
Application:
- Chemical industry - the manufacture of ammonia, soap, plastics.
- Filling of spherical shells in meteorology.
- Rocket fuel.
- Cooling electric generators.
Xenon
Xenon is a monoatom colorless gas.
Application:
- filling incandescent lamps;
- in the engines of spacecraft;
- as anesthesia.
For the human body is harmless. Of particular benefit is not.