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Applying Chemical Potential and Partial Pressure Concepts To Understand the Spontaneous Mixing of Helium and Air in a Helium-Inflated Balloon

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Jee-Yon Lee and Hee-Soo Yoo

Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheong-ju 361-763, Korea

Jong Sook Park , Kwang-Jin Hwang and Jin Seog Kim

Division of Chemical Metrology and Materials Evaluation, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Yuseong, Deajeon, 305-600, Korea

J. Chem. Educ., 2005, 82 (2), p 288

DOI: 10.1021/ed082p288

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2005

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

In developing this laboratory, our initial motivation for the analysis of gases in a balloon was to answer simple and basic questions, such as, Why does a helium-charged balloon left in the air always drop in a few days? Is leakage of helium the only cause of the drop? What is the composition of the gas in the balloon when it falls after deflation? Students were intrigued by these questions, too, as they analyzed the variation over time in the composition in a balloon inflated with helium. Using the concepts of partial pressure and chemical potential, the laboratory experiment described effectively investigates the diffusion process and the behavior of gas molecules for teaching these concepts in general and physical chemistry.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Physical Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

Transport Properties

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Citing Articles

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

Gas Permeability of Polymers
Bruno Lunelli
Journal of Chemical Education2005 82 (10), 1471
- Gas Permeability of Polymers
  Bruno Lunelli
  Journal of Chemical Education2005 82 (10), 1471
  The recent article, “Applying Chemical Potential and Partial Pressure Concepts To Understand the Spontaneous Mixing of Helium and Air in a Helium-Inflated Balloon”, proposes a model of permeation untenable and in contradiction with correct statements ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Gas Permeability of Polymers (the author replies)
Jee-Yon Lee
Journal of Chemical Education2005 82 (10), 1472
- Gas Permeability of Polymers (the author replies)
  Jee-Yon Lee
  Journal of Chemical Education2005 82 (10), 1472
  Undergraduate students can learn what causes the helium-inflated balloon to fall in a few days through the proposed experiment.
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links