Make a Tin Foil Boat Float on Air!
kyleti — Mon, 02/05/2007 - 15:28
I learned today at work that some light objects such as aluminum foil or balsa can be made into boat that will float on top of a gas, namely SF-6. SF-6 (sulfur hexafloride) is a gas that we use at work in circuit breakers to prevent arcs when the breaker opens under load. I found a pretty good video of it on the internet.
The guys at work talk about accidentally breathing SF-6 and because it is much heavier than normal air, talking really low, the opposite of helium.
Feed - All content
Comments
So where is the best place to get some SF-6 for my own experiments/amusement?
Just run down to your local substation, steal all of the copper grounds, then drill into the biggest... wait a second, that's not a good idea!
Seriously, they use it for eye surgury, it can probably be picked up for around $10/lb at your local gas supplier (probaby BOC) .
We just had a safety meeting at work regarding SF6. It is not safe to inhale. Because it’s heavy, it doesn't get out of your lungs easily like helium. I think it also forms hydrofluoric acid in some circumstances.
I found that Wikipedia article on SF6 interesting.
Especially the following:
"A myth exists that SF6 is too heavy for the lungs to expel unassisted, and that after inhaling SF6, it is necessary to bend over completely at the waist to allow the excess gas to "spill" out of the body. In fact, the lungs mix gases very effectively and rapidly, such that SF6 would be purged from the lungs within a breath or two."
I have also heard that a person must bend over, or stand on their head to purge the lungs.
According to the MSDS sheet, it will decompose into Hydrogen Flouride (nasty, nasty stuff) when exposed to heat in excess of 200 C.
At 200 C, what am I?
A Buddhist monk?
your nowhere near 200c.
body temperature(that is 98.6f) is 37c.