Uses of Different Gases in Everyday Life – GK (PDF)
Did you know the air you breathe is a mix of invisible gases? From the oxygen that fuels your body to the helium that lifts birthday balloons, gases play a HUGE role in our everyday lives! Whether it’s cooking your food, keeping your drinks fizzy, or even lighting up your home, these unseen molecules are always at work.
Various gases possess unique properties that make them essential in daily life. Ranging from healthcare to food preservation, from household uses to industrial applications and energy production, these gases play a crucial role in various aspects of everyday life. Here are some common gases and their uses listed below:
List of Gases and their uses pdf
| Gas | Formula | Uses/Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Acetylene | C2H2 | » Oxyfuel gas for welding and cutting metals » Producing the hottest flame » Used to volatilize carbon in radiocarbon dating » Portable lighting » Plastics and acrylic acid derivatives |
| Ethylene | C2H4 | » Anaesthetics in medical » Metal Fabrication » Refining » Use as refrigerant » Extraction of rubber » ripening of fruit Production of car glass |
| Ether | R–O–R or CH3CH2―O―CH2CH3 | » As solvents for fats, oils, waxes » Used as insecticides, miticides, and fumigants for soil » Used as a starting fluid for diesel engines. » Also used as a refrigerant » Manufacture of smokeless gunpowder » Use in perfumery. |
| Ammonia | NH3 | » Used as a refrigerant gas » Purification of water supplies » Manufacture of plastics, explosives, textiles, pesticides » Use in fertilizer » Household cleaning » Manufacture of synthetic fibers, such as nylon and rayon. » Substitute for calcium in the pulping of wood » Extraction of copper, nickel, and molybdenum from ores. |
| Nitrogen | N2 | » Used to make fertilizers, nitric acid, nylon, dyes. » Produce ammonia » Purging gas in the steel industry » Preservation of Food » Electronics Manufacturing » Pharmaceutical Industry |
| Helium | He | » Used as an inert protective atmosphere for fiber optics and semiconductors. » Detect leaks, such as in-car air-conditioning systems » Used to inflate car airbags » Cleaning rocket fuel tanks » MRI magnets » medicine, scientific research, arc welding » Cryogenic research » Balloons, medical equipment |
| Argon | Ar | » Production of titanium » Used by welders to protect the weld area » Incandescent light bulbs » Healthcare Industry » Food and Drink Industry » Document Preservation |
| Carbon dioxide | CO2 | » Used as a refrigerant » Fire extinguishers » Life jackets, blasting coal, foaming rubber and plastics » Make concrete » Used to accelerate the growth of algae » Used to carbonated soft drinks, beers, and wine » Dry ice |
| Propane | C3H8 | » Portable stoves » Refrigerant » Domestic and industrial fuel » Used in oxy-fuel heating and cutting » The primary fuel for hot air balloons » Used as a propellant » Production of base petrochemicals in steam cracking. |
| Butane | C4H10 | » Highly flammable » Used as a propellant for deodorants and as fuel for lighters » Used for gasoline blending » LPG » Used as refrigerants |
| Nitrous oxide | N2O | » Used for sedation and pain relief » Used to feel intoxicated or high » Rocket motors » Internal combustion engine » Aerosol propellant » Medicine |
| Oxygen | O2 | » Plays a critical role in respiration » Energy-producing » Oxygen supplementation is used in medicine » Life support and recreational use » Smelting of iron ore into steel » Volatilizing carbon dioxide » LOX of rocket oxidizer fuels |
| Methyl alcohol | CH3OH | » Use as an industrial solvent » To produce Acetic acid and formaldehyde » To produce hydrocarbons, olefins » cleaner-burning, an alternative source of energy |
| Ethanol | C2H5OH | » Used as a solvent » As an additive to automotive gasoline » To produce beer, wine, and distilled spirits » As an antiseptic and disinfectant » Use in hand sanitizers and medical wipes » To produce ethyl esters, acetic acid, diethyl ether, and ethyl amines. |
Uses of Common Gases in Everyday Life
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