all i did was get the weight of oxygen and nitrogen, since thats what mostly is air...
dont trip on my question, it just sounded in my head like it was right... i duno though
2007-02-25 07:07:42 · 4 answers · asked by living_under_shadows 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
alright, it was just a trippy question i had in my head, but it sounds like it would work, but but, i know it doesnt
2007-02-25 07:21:26 · update #1
I know what you mean. Some people find it hard to believe air weighs anything. That is because we are adapted to live in it. Things weigh less than 30g after you have allowed for the density of air.
It's like putting a mixing bowl on a set of scales, then resetting the dial to zero.
2007-02-25 07:12:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually the effective molecular weight of air is about 29, as it is mostly nitrogen (molecular weight 28). This means that 22.4 liters of air will, under standard conditions, have a mass of 29 grams, and something like helium, with a molecular weight of 4, will float in air if confined in a balloon. A balloon ful of carbon dioxide (molecular weight 44) will sink. If any such gas is not confined, it will mix fairly quickly with air to form a uniform mixture.
2007-02-25 15:24:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but those 30 grams (it's nearer 28.5) are spread over 24 litres or so. A gas which weighs less than 28g for its 24 litres will go upwards. That is how helium balloons work, after all!
2007-02-25 15:13:39 · answer #3 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How much air is 30 grams? You have to look at the density - mass/volume. Helium is less dense than air, so it does float - but pretty much everything else is more dense.
2007-02-25 15:13:24 · answer #4 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋