April 30, 2024, 05:26:14 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Topic: Conservation of Mass  (Read 4156 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline tv

  • Very New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Conservation of Mass
« on: January 16, 2010, 11:44:11 PM »
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?  
Logged

Offline UG

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 822
  • Mole Snacks: +134/-15
  • Gender: Male
Re: Conservation of Mass
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2010, 12:13:25 AM »
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
Logged

Offline Borek

  • Mr. pH
  • Administrator
  • Deity Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27665
  • Mole Snacks: +1801/-410
  • Gender: Male
  • I am known to be occasionally wrong.
    • Chembuddy
Re: Conservation of Mass
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2010, 04:28:04 AM »
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.
Logged
ChemBuddy chemical calculators - stoichiometry, pH, concentration, buffer preparation, titrations.info

Offline JGK

  • Chemist
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 738
  • Mole Snacks: +66/-19
  • Gender: Male
Re: Conservation of Mass
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2010, 12:38:26 PM »
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.
Logged
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Sponsored Links