limestone rocks will be heated either by propane or a natural wood fire for a sweat lodge. once in the lodge they have water poured on them to give off steam. Do they give off dangerous gases?
2007-09-25 09:48:29 · 3 answers · asked by Neat Freak 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Limestone is a poor choice for sauna rock. They are too soft and will break down to nothing in a short time. For a sauna, you want igneous, crystalline rocks such as granite or basalt. Regarding the rocks off-gassing, limestone is made of calcium carbonate, so there are no noxious gasses that will be produced, only steam.
2007-09-25 09:56:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Limestone gives off carbon dioxide when heated to 800C, but I doubt that it would be safe then to add water - an extremely violent reaction (quicklime to slaked lime) then happens!
So I suspect that they are not heated nearly to 800C, and no gas is given off.
2007-09-25 09:52:22 · answer #2 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No; you're safe.
2007-09-25 09:54:19 · answer #3 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋