"QDurham" wrote in message
...
Bryan said in part:

Helium is difficult to contain because the gas particles are so small
they
tend to diffuse through the tiny pores in rubber balloons. Because helium
is a
noble gas, its atoms don't normally combine with any other atoms to form
molecules, not even other helium atoms. So helium gas is composed of
individual
atoms of helium and it is the second smallest atom there is. Most other
elements form diatomic molecules in their gaseous state and any
molecule formed from two atoms is going to be much larger than a helium
atom.
Hydrogen, for example, is half as heavy as helium but its gas particles
are
much larger so hydrogen is easier to contain.

Keeping in mind hydrogen's explosive qualities, might it not be a better
gas
for small toy balloons? I've even heard of blowing soap bubbles with
hydrogen
and poking them with a lighter of some sort. Availability?

Quent

At one time the US Navy used hydrogen generators for weather balloons.
Basically, it was crock with muratic acid and aluminum scrap in it. There's
a top with a hose connection to the balloon.

Yes H2 will explode if mixed with the right amount of air - just like
gasoline. However, if it just leaks, it departs straight up without
pooling. It's not too big a hazard.


Bill Daniels