Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: tv on January 16, 2010, 11:44:11 PM
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A balloon filled with helium floats near the ceiling.After several days, the balloon is deflated and lying on the floor.Have helium atoms been destroyed?if so,how?if not,where are they?
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As the title suggests, mass is conserved. No, the helium atoms have not been distroyed, fortunately you can't just 'nuke' atoms :D and distroy them. They've escaped the out of balloon and out the window probably, and the gas inside the balloon is just normal air, so if falls to the ground
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I think gas inside is still mostly helium, but its volume is too low now to keep balloon in the air by buoyancy.
Other than that I agree with UG.
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The balloon is not totally impermeable to gases.
Consequently, the helium in the balloon which is under a slight pressure will diffuse through the baloon membrane. This causes the balloon to deflate and when the weight of the baloon > buoyancy of the remaining helium it will fall to the floor.