Paging all chemistry experts: how can I tell if it's N2 or Air?

[DJM]

Have it tested with an O2 meter

[haikuman]

DJM wrote:
Have it tested with an O2 meter

Smart ass *(:>* :cartman:

[OWC Jamie]

space-time wrote:
[quote=Paul F.]
A CANDLE would set off the fire alarms? Those are some serious fire alarms!
Even a little tiny birthday cake candle?
...

I don't want ot take any chances. Evacuate 100+ people,shut down production, fine from fire marshal.... I would be in serious trouble.

I am gonna run along hose outside the facility and do experiments outside
so have a cpr/ respiratory distress exercise at the same time. Get the pretty girl with the big boobs to volunteer. :-)

[davester]

haikuman wrote:
[quote=DJM]
Have it tested with an O2 meter

Smart ass *(:>* :cartman:
Actually, that's not a bad idea. If you have an industrial hygienist onsite (very likely if you are dealing with compressed gases and other chemicals) ask to borrow their O2 meter. Otherwise take the suggestion of filling a test tube and taking it outside to try the match trick.

[freeradical]

cbelt3 wrote:
Politely ask the facility manager to correct the problem. Recommend that he fill a large plastic bag with the gas, then stick his head in there and see if he can breathe. If he is not willing to do that, ask him to re-inspect and certify.. IN WRITING... what the gas is.

Ain't your responsibility (probably). You found a defect, make the idiots fix it.

Yeah..

[haikuman]

davester wrote:
[quote=haikuman]
[quote=DJM]
Have it tested with an O2 meter

Smart ass *(:>* :cartman:
Actually, that's not a bad idea. If you have an industrial hygienist onsite (very likely if you are dealing with compressed gases and other chemicals) ask to borrow their O2 meter. Otherwise take the suggestion of filling a test tube and taking it outside to try the match trick.
I was trully advocating that idea... perhaps my oblique and distorted humor was confusing.
haikuperson now assumes the the John Belushi persona """ you don't like my cooking""" my sword now raised in the seppuku position.

[davester]

haikuman wrote:
[quote=davester]
[quote=haikuman]
[quote=DJM]
Have it tested with an O2 meter

Smart ass *(:>* :cartman:
Actually, that's not a bad idea. If you have an industrial hygienist onsite (very likely if you are dealing with compressed gases and other chemicals) ask to borrow their O2 meter. Otherwise take the suggestion of filling a test tube and taking it outside to try the match trick.
I was trully advocating that idea... perhaps my oblique and distorted humor was confusing.
haikuperson now assumes the the John Belushi persona """ you don't like my cooking""" my sword now raised in the seppuku position.
Samurai Industrial Hygienist!

[macphanatic]

Paul F. wrote:
A CANDLE would set off the fire alarms? Those are some serious fire alarms!
Even a little tiny birthday cake candle?

If it is an air sampling or very early smoke detection system (VESDA is one brand) it could very well do so. One of my clients had their VESDA system in the computer room go into pre-alarm. They checked out the room and the system, found nothing. They thought it was a system issue and called in for service. 24 hrs later, their server monitoring identified a hard drive issue. Migrated the data to a new hard drive and pulled the old one. Shortly afterwards, the pre-alarm cleared itself.

[macphanatic]

billb wrote:
why run a hose outside ?
This lab doesn't have a test tube you could invert fill with the "gas" and walk outside with a shove a match into to see if lack of O puts ithe flame out ?
Not the greatest of tests.
If it's regular compressed air it's not like you've got something explosive in the tube, it's air.


Got a canary ?

Even if it was H2, it would only make a small bang. We did this in High School AP Chemistry to lighten the mood occasionally. Ok, it we really did it just to see who would jump. Yes we were juvenile.

[tenders]

Try a lighter. No smoke, same effect.