Oxygen

It depends on the use of the oxygen cylinders. Most cylinders of oxygen used for underwater or pressurized breathing air have nitrogen, but pressurized nitrogen will dissolve in the blood stream and come back out of solution when the pressure decreases rapidly, causing what is known at the "bends" unless the ascent is made slowly. So some breathing mixtures will use helium instead of nitrogen to prevent this.

2 Responses

1. softwarejonas Says:
   March 5th, 2010 at 6:35 am

   I guess Helium is a noble gas and not likely to react with anything, while Nitrogen can react with many elements.
   References :

2. oeman50 Says:
   March 5th, 2010 at 7:09 am

   It depends on the use of the oxygen cylinders. Most cylinders of oxygen used for underwater or pressurized breathing air have nitrogen, but pressurized nitrogen will dissolve in the blood stream and come back out of solution when the pressure decreases rapidly, causing what is known at the "bends" unless the ascent is made slowly. So some breathing mixtures will use helium instead of nitrogen to prevent this.
   References :

Leave a Comment