Does Nitrogen Smell?

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Hi All,

 

The leaking aircon system was pressure tested with (I think) Nitrogen. Couldn

[NikpV]

Pure nitrogen doesn't smell

[Ogben Schmutzel]

The emphasis being on pure!!

 

Thanks for the reply.

Oggy.

[NikpV]

Did they incude a uv dye in the pressure test, dyes are often aromatic (in the organic chemistry sense) and often smell - as implied by their name.

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Did they incude a uv dye in the pressure test, dyes are often aromatic (in the organic chemistry sense) and often smell - as implied by their name.

 

Dunno whether they did this time but they have in the past. First time i have ever noticed the smell though!!

 

Cheers.

Oggy.

[Guest Andyb]

if its nitrogen you should be dead

[NikpV]

if its nitrogen you should be dead

 

 

 

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[galaxy_1.9TD_Zetec]

Not sure on the comment about "if it was nitrogen you should be dead".

It is no secret that air is composed of approx 78% Nitrrogen. There is also approx 21% of Oxygen. The other 1% is made of various other gasses.

 

However, it is not the breathing in of Nitrogen that would kill you, it would be the lack of Oxygen. Your body needs to be taking in Oxygen in order to keep the brain ticking.

 

I would guess that if your Gal was leaking Nitrogen, then by the time you breath it in, it is diluted in the air and, unless your lips were glued to the place that was leaking, you would be as safe as the Crown Jewels.

[Masked Marauder]

Not sure on the comment about "if it was nitrogen you should be dead".

It is no secret that air is composed of approx 78% Nitrogen. There is also approx 21% of Oxygen. The other 1% is made of various other gasses.

 

However, it is not the breathing in of Nitrogen that would kill you, it would be the lack of Oxygen. Your body needs to be taking in Oxygen in order to keep the brain ticking.

 

 

 

If you only breathed pure oxygen you would be dead too. Pure oxygen is toxic to the human body. Nitrogen is not only colourless, odourless and inert, it also keeps us alive by diluting the oxygen!

[sepulchrave]

Au contraire, MM.

 

Oxygen toxicity only really occurs in diving situations when breathing the stuff at high effective pressures (>2 ATM), at normal atmosperic pressures it's perfectly safe.

 

Whaddya think they're doing to Wayne Rooney, squirting it over his feet? :16:

 

A pure Nitrogen atmosphere would certainly lead to VERY rapid asphyxiation and death.

[NikpV]

Actually you are both correct - at elavated pressures >1.6 atm acute oxygen toxicity sets in quickly, at normal atm pressure the effects take longer 24 - 30 hours before subjects show signs of pulmonary oedema and at reduced partial pressures you can breathe pure oxygen for extended periods of time. As usual only headline figures are looked at.

[sepulchrave]

Okey-Dokey Nik.

[NikpV]

Okey-Dokey Nik.

 

 

:48: :16:

[El Dingo]

Didn't the Apollo Astronauts use a pure oxygen atmosphere in the capsule until the Apollo 1 fire?

[NikpV]

Didn't the Apollo Astronauts use a pure oxygen atmosphere in the capsule until the Apollo 1 fire?

yes at a reduced partial pressure

[mumof4]

Now this has turned into quite an eye opening topic.....Ive learnt something new today! :16:

 

 

Just out of curiosity....how many of you searched on this subject...well, deviated subject???

[NikpV]

Now this has turned into quite an eye opening topic.....Ive learnt something new today! :16:

 

 

Just out of curiosity....how many of you searched on this subject...well, deviated subject???

 

 

no - science teacher, its the sort of trivia you pick up, the kids... students always want to know about that sort of thing :48:

[mumof4]

Well, its been a long time since i was at school....!!!! :16:

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Well thanks for the replies and an interesting read.

 

The situation though, was simply that the car smelt for a few days after my garage did some pressure testing and I think they used nitrogen. It may that they just pressurised it with air and the stink was what you would get out of any closed system that had been in use for 4 years and then sprung a leak(s). Work was done Monday and smell was noticed every time on entering car until today when it had gone as presumably whatever it was had finally all leaked out..

 

This is leading me to the conclusion that leak is somewhere with the cab which basically is bad. Not intending to do anything with it for a while. So far I have spent

[NikpV]

Well, its been a long time since i was at school....!!!! :5:

 

 

ahh ah

 

anyway..gtg in a mo..got my car maintenance course this morn so ill be back after lunch!

 

so you wern't at school yesterday then ... Neil ... Neil, where did you say she was ????? ah learning to count to ........5 really :5: :16:

[mumof4]

My god,,if i ever had to go to the doc about number 5......i think id turn psychotic!!A friend of mine has 5 boys....no idea how she does it..and she is one of these peeps who dont look as if they have ever had a baby!!!..

[Bigjeeze]

My god,,if i ever had to go to the doc about number 5......i think id turn psychotic!! Turn????!!!!!! :16:

 

 

A friend of mine has 5 boys....no idea how she does it..and she is one of these peeps who dont look as if they have ever had a baby!!!..

Just reinforces my point really - its just like shelling peas!!! :5: