Types of Gases

It is a known fact that a gas plant is known in accordance with its final output. So we
have oxygen gas plant producing oxygen, nitrogen gas plant producing nitrogen, acetylene
gas plant producing acetylene and so on. This implies that the gases available are the
main raw materials used in gas plants, without which the existence of a gas plant has no
meaning. Accordingly the manufacturers and suppliers are involved in the production of
certain gases which are useful in various industrial and commercial, including residential
applications. There are different types of gases on the basis of which a plant is installed.
We give below the description of certain gases:
• Oxygen (O2) • Biogas
• Nitrogen (N2) • Acetylene (C2H2)
• Argon (Ar) • Krypton (Kr), Neon (Ne) and Xenon (Xe)
• Hydrogen (H2) • Gaseous Hydrocarbons (CnHm)

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Ozone (O3)

Oxygen (O2)
The most common element found in nature is oxygen. One of the major five elements
required to sustain life is oxygen. A tasteless, odorless and colorless gas, oxygen is
essential to life, it is essential for respiration of even plants and animals. It reacts very
strongly in the presence of other chemical substances. By weight, oxygen makes up the
following:

• 89% of the Earth's water

• 62% of the human body
• 46% of the Earth's crust (in the form of silicates, oxides, etc.)
• 21% of the air we breathe

Nitrogen (N2)
Mainly found in the atmosphere, nitrogen gas makes up 78% of the earth's air, by
volume. In 1772 nitrogen was discovered by chemist and physician Daniel Rutherford
who showed when oxygen and carbon dioxide are removed from air, the residual gas, that
is nitrogen, would not support combustion or living organisms. Nitrogen is a neutral and
colorless gas. From an exhaustible source in our atmosphere, including the Earth's crust
in the form of niter, nitrates, in organic form and also in mineral form, nitrogen gas can
be obtained by liquefaction and fractional distillation. It is found in all living systems as
component of the makeup of biological compounds.

Argon (Ar)
About 0.9% argon exists in the atmosphere. It is a neutral and colorless gas and does not
exist in nature other than in the air. It is a highly useful gas though it cannot sustain life.
Argon is soluble in water in the same amount as oxygen gas and is 2.5 times more soluble
in water than nitrogen gas. Argon gas is used in metals and manufacturing industry, iron
and steel industry, laboratories and semi conductor industry.

Hydrogen (H2)
Hydrogen is only found in the atmosphere at trace levels. But this gas is found in
abundant quantities in hydrocarbons (petroleum and petroleum by-products). It is also
found in ordinary water. Hydrogen constitutes the lightest fraction of the H2O molecule
in water. The gas is highly flammable. A colorless and a very light gas, hydrogen cannot
sustain life and reacts easily with other chemical substances.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

This gas is formed from the combination of two elements: oxygen and carbon. Carbon
dioxide is produced from the fermentation of liquids, the combustion of hydrocarbons
and the breathing of humans and animals. Found in small quantities in the atmosphere, it
is mixed by plants which in turn produce oxygen. With a slightly irritating odor, carbon
dioxide cannot sustain life. It is colorless and heavier than air. It forms carbon dioxide
snow when it freezes at -78.5 degree C. In an aqueous solution it forms carbonic acid. In
its solid state, CO2 is commonly called dry ice, which is widely used in the food and
beverage industry.

Biogas
Biogas is that type of gas formed by the anaerobic fermentation of biological materials.
The main constituents of biogas are methane and carbon dioxide. Considerable amount of
biogas is produced by sludge digestion in the tanks of sewage treatment plants, which can be
referred to as sewage gas. The anaerobic fermentation of organic residues and agricultural
waste and garbage tips produce biogas, referred to as landfill gas. With no net carbon
dioxide emissions, biomass is a good source of energy to be used as a fuel and can help in
reducing the use of fossil fuels. This in turn can help to reduce the greenhouse effect.

Acetylene (C2H2)
This is not an air gas. This gas is a synthesis gas usually produced from the reaction of
calcium carbide with water. In the 19th century, acetylene was burnt in "acetylene lamps"
to light mining tunnels and homes. Acetylene is a gaseous hydrocarbon. It has a strong
garlic odor. The gas is colorless, unstable, highly combustible. Acetylene produces a very
hot flame when combined with oxygen. Acetylene is used in machine/metal construction
for cutting and welding (with oxygen). It is also used in the glass industry for lubrication
of bottle production molds.

Krypton (Kr), Neon (Ne) and Xenon (Xe)

These gases are known as "rare" gases. They are so called because all the three gases
account for one thousandth of the air which surround us. These gases are colorless and
tasteless and cannot sustain life. They are inert gases which do not react. These gases can
only be combined with other chemical substances with great difficulty. This extreme
inertness quality in these gases makes them very valuable for certain applications.

Gaseous Hydrocarbons (CnHm)

The basic characteristic of hydrocarbon gases is that they contain both carbon atoms and
hydrogen atoms. The carbon atoms give the flame its hot color when burnt and the
hydrogen atoms are particularly combustible. The most well-known gaseous
hydrocarbons are as follows:
 • Acetylene (C2H2): The decomposition of calcium carbide in water produce
acetylene.

• Methane (CH4): It is main component of natural gas and is also known as "marsh
gas" or "pit gas".

• Ethane (C2H6): This is a petroleum gas. It is used as a fuel.

• Ethylene (C2H4): This is a petroleum gas. It is used to produce many synthetic

products like plastics.

• Propane (C3H8): It is a common petroleum fuel gas. Propane gas is often

delivered to domestic storage tanks.

• Butane (C4H10): This is also a petroleum fuel gas. This gas can easily be
liquefied. It is sold in low-pressure cylinders sometimes.

Ozone (03)
This gas is formed by the combination of three oxygen atoms. With a strong and irritating
odor, it is a very unstable gas. This gas is corrosive, very toxic. It is also a strong oxidant.
It is therefore absolutely unsuitable to sustain life. This gas is produced by generating
high-power electrical discharges in the air or in oxygen. Ozone gas is found in the upper
layers of the atmosphere. The gas serves as a shield which protects the earth from the
sun's ultraviolet radiation. The gas is used to sterilize water, bleach textiles, neutralize
odors, paper, and in certain chemical manufacturing processes.