Breathing gas

Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas. Other artificial gases, either pure gases or mixtures of gases, are used in enclosed breathing environments such as SCUBA equipment, recompression chambers, submarines, space suits and anaesthetic machines.

Related Topics:
Air - SCUBA - Recompression chamber - Submarine - Space suit - Anaesthetic machine

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A safe breathing gas has three essential features:

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• it must contain sufficient oxygen to support the life, consciousness and work rate of the breather.
• it must not contain harmful gases. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are common poisons in breathing gases. There are many others.
• it must not become toxic when being breathed at high pressure such as when underwater. Oxygen and nitrogen are examples of gases that become toxic under pressure.

Most breathing gases are a mixture of oxygen and one or more inert gases. The techniques used to fill diving cylinders with gases other than air are called gas blending.

Related Topics:
Diving cylinder - Gas blending

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Breathing gas: Common diving breathing gases ►