What Happens When You Mix Helium & Sulfur Hexafluoride?

TL;DR

Exploring the effects of inhaling helium, sulfur hexafluoride, and regular air on balloon buoyancy.

Transcript

Today, we're taking a look at the difference between helium, regular air, and sulfur hexafluoride in balloons. On Twitter, user Monkey Humor said, "Hey @theKingofRandom, can you inhale helium then blow up a balloon?" As I interpret that question, the goal is to see if we can inhale helium, sort of straight from the tank, then blow it into a balloon... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫁 Inhaling too much helium can cause lightheadedness because it displaces the air in the lungs.
• ✈️ Helium is lighter than air and displaces regular air from the lungs, allowing the balloon to float.
• 💬 Sulfur hexafluoride is denser than air, making balloons filled with it sink.
• 🏋️ Balloons filled with helium have less weight and can lift more weight compared to those filled with sulfur hexafluoride.
• 💬 Breathing directly from a tank into a balloon does not provide the necessary pressure for the balloon to float.
• 💬 Mixing helium and sulfur hexafluoride creates a blend that does not exhibit unique properties in the balloon.
• ❣️ Carbon dioxide is heavier than breath and can be used to create a balloon that sinks.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can inhaling helium and blowing it into a balloon make it float?

Yes, helium displaces the air in the lungs and its lighter density causes the balloon to float.

Q: What happens when sulfur hexafluoride is inhaled and blown into a balloon?

Sulfur hexafluoride, being heavier than air, makes the balloon sink instead of float.

Q: Can combining helium and sulfur hexafluoride create a balloon with unique properties?

No, the helium tends to overpower the effects of sulfur hexafluoride, resulting in a balloon that does not exhibit distinct characteristics.

Q: What happens if breath is blown directly from a tank into a balloon?

Filling a balloon directly from a tank is not effective in making it float. The air pressure needs to be regulated by breathing into a balloon first.

Key Insights:

• Inhaling too much helium can cause lightheadedness because it displaces the air in the lungs.
• Helium is lighter than air and displaces regular air from the lungs, allowing the balloon to float.
• Sulfur hexafluoride is denser than air, making balloons filled with it sink.
• Balloons filled with helium have less weight and can lift more weight compared to those filled with sulfur hexafluoride.
• Breathing directly from a tank into a balloon does not provide the necessary pressure for the balloon to float.
• Mixing helium and sulfur hexafluoride creates a blend that does not exhibit unique properties in the balloon.
• Carbon dioxide is heavier than breath and can be used to create a balloon that sinks.
• Sulfur hexafluoride is much heavier than both breath and helium, resulting in a significant difference in balloon weight.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The goal is to determine if inhaling helium and blowing it into a balloon makes it float, and to see if the same can be done with sulfur hexafluoride.

• Inhaling helium displaces the air in the lungs, causing light-headedness. It is important to take breaths of regular air in between.

• Balloons filled with helium and sulfur hexafluoride have different densities, causing variations in floating ability and lifting capacity.