How to Make a Balloon Float Without Helium
Toy balloons are often filled with helium to make them float in air. The reason that such balloons float is that the helium inside is lighter than air. The helium is sufficiently lighter than air so that even with the weight of a balloon added, the balloon floats. Many gasses besides helium are lighter than air. These include hydrogen, ammonia and methane. The two most commonly used gasses in balloons are helium and hydrogen. Hydrogen is flammable, however, and explosive when mixed with air. Consequently, helium is the gas of choice for toy balloons.
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Instructions
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Find a chemist who is familiar with hydrogen gas and willing to do this experiment. It is unsafe for someone without sufficient background to experiment with hydrogen gas, especially in large enough amounts to fill a toy balloon.
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Go outside. Hydrogen gas, mixed with air, in a balloon can explode with enough force to break the windows in a home.
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Check that no flames or potential sparks are near where you work.
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Fill the balloon with hydrogen gas.
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Tie the balloon's neck.
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Tie the balloon on a string. You will see that it floats just like a balloon filled with helium.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to show that a balloon can float without using either helium or hydrogen, blow a balloon up with air, tie it and place it in a tub of water. The balloon will float. This illustrates that air is lighter than water.
A hot air balloon works because hot air is lighter than cold air.
Hydrogen gas is flammable and explosive when mixed with air.
Do not experiment with hydrogen gas unless you are trained in handling it.
Do this experiment outdoors in an open space where nothing will catch fire if the balloon burns or explodes.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit green balloon image by Vjom from Fotolia.com
