GAS
BAGS
The use of gas bags for the storage and handling of gases
is well over 200 years old. Henry Cavendish described the use
of a “bladder” for gas manipulation in his 1766 publication On Factitious
Airs (Figure 1) and Carl Scheele used the a large gas bag when he produced
“fire air” (oxygen) in 1772.(A Short History
of Chemistry, J. R. Partington, 3rd edition, (1957)) (Figure 2)
Figure 1. Gas bladder used by Henry Cavendish
Figure 2. Gas bladder used by
Carl Scheele
A century later, gas bags were
still common. In the 1872 text by Storer and Lindsay,(An Elementary Manual of Chemistry, F. H. Storer and
W. B. Lindsay, American Book Company, 1872.) a gas bag was used to make a mound
of soapy bubbles containing a hydrogen-oxygen mixture (Figure 3).
Figure 3. A 19th century gas bag experiment
And now, another century later, gas bags are still used, although plastic
has replaced animal organs. Courneya and McDonald described the use of a
plastic bag to store gases in 1978.(Courneya,
D and McDonald, H; The Science Teacher 45(6), 43, September 1978. The
article is reprinted in Irwin Talesnick’s Idea Bank Collation, A Handbook
for Science Teachers, Volume 1; 1984, Part Number CB 066, S17 Science Supplies
and Services. Link to the S17 website is provided at our microscale gas website.) A modification of this can
be purchased from S17 Science Supplies and Services.(Part Number EQ 059, S17 Science Supplies and Services.)
In this chapter we describe the use of 1 L (1 qt) household
food storage bags such as Ziploc‚ bags for transferring gases and temporarily
storing gases. The gas bag can be used to fill syringes for use by
students. One gas bag will fill at least twenty 60 mL syringes.
The technique is exceedingly convenient in situations such as
obtaining oxygen from
a mechanical or welding shop
obtaining helium from a grocery
or flower shop
collecting natural gas which
has enough pressure to inflate a bag but not enough to push a plunger outward
preparing large quantities of
a gas such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen or oxygen (inside the 1 L bag) for
use in multiple experiments
discharging a gas such as CH4,
H2 or CO at a constant, controlled rate in
order to sustain a small flame.
Basic materials needed
60 mL plastic syringe
1 L (qt) freezer-quality food
storage bag, for example, Ziploc
tubing, 1/8 inch (3.175 mm)
ID, 15 cm length
plastic hemostat or pinch clamp
dish soap
Suitability
The use of gas bags is intended for use by teachers.
Gas bags can save time and provide a useful method for delivering larger
quantities of gas at a constant flow rate.
Construction of the gas bag from a food storage bag
Use a pencil or similar round, sharp object to poke a
hole through the plastic bag in a position similar to that shown in Figure
4. Moisten one end of the piece of tubing with dish soap in order to
facilitate pushing it through the hole in the bag. The gas bag is now
ready for testing. Fill a large pail (10 L) with water. Inflate
the gas bag with air. Hold the point of connection between the gas bag and the tubing under the water
and check for leaks (or place some water in the bag and let it pool near
the tubing and then check for leaks on the outside of the bag). We have
found that there are seldom leaks. The seal, however, often leaks slowly,
but in most cases slow leaks are of little consequence.
Figure 4. A 1 L Gas Bag
Possible uses for the gas bag
1. The gas bag is a time-saving device when used as a large reservoir to
fill syringes for use in microscale gas experiments by students.
2. Use the gas bag to transfer oxygen from a mechanical or welding shop to
the lab. Connect the tubing from the gas directly to the cylinder of
compressed oxygen. Squeeze all of the air out of the bag before connecting
to the cylinder. After the bag is full, clamp the tubing shut with
the hemostat or pinch clamp. Avoid overfilling the gas bag.
3. Use the gas bag to transfer helium for from a grocery or flower shop.
Same instructions as above, however it is also possible to buy a helium balloon
from a store (not overfilled) and transfer the gas from the balloon to the
bag: Near the mouthpiece, but 3 cm away from the knot, twist the balloon
to make a new temporary seal. Cut a small slit (2 mm) with a scissors
between the twist and the knot. Work the tubing into the hole (use
soap, as before). Open the hemostat and slowly release the twist seal.
Gas will start filling the gas bag. (We have used helium in the molar
mass experiment (Chapter 6), but better results are obtained with gases having
large molar masses.)
4. Use the gas bag to collect natural gas or propane. These gases have
enough pressure to inflate a gas bag but not enough to push a plunger outward.
Simply connect the tubing to the gas jet. For propane from a propane
torch tank, remove the nozzle from the propane torch and slip rubber tubing
of suitable diameter over the brass fitting on the torch. The tubing
can be “reduced” in diameter by slipping it over a smaller diameter piece
of tubing connected to the gas bag. Use tape to achieve an air-tight seal
if necessary. Gas bags filled with flammable gases should be in the
custody of the teacher at all times.
5. Use the gas bag to prepare large quantities of a gas such as carbon dioxide,
oxygen or hydrogen.
o Carbon dioxide: Place 3 g NaHCO3 inside a
gas bag. Squeeze out most of the air, zip the bag shut and remove the
remaining air by withdrawing it via the tubing using a 60 mL syringe.
Use a 60 mL syringe to transfer 50 mL of vinegar to the bag. The reaction
will commence upon contact between the two reagents. After the reaction
is complete, samples of CO2 can be withdrawn
for various experiments.
o Hydrogen is prepared in a similar fashion using 1 g powdered magnesium
(inside the bag) and 50 mL 1.2 M HCl(aq) admitted via the tubing. The
reaction becomes quite warm and is complete within one minute. Other
forms of magnesium (turnings, ribbon) also can be used.
o Oxygen is prepared using 0.5 potassium iodide (inside the bag) and 60 mL
3% H2O2 (aq)
admitted via the tubing. The reaction is considerably slower; it takes
about 5 minutes.
v Use the gas bag to discharge a gas such as CH4,
H2 or CO at a constant, controlled rate in
order to sustain a small flame. Assemble the apparatus as shown in Figure
5. Use a 15 cm length of tubing to connect the gas bag to a glass pipet.
(The tubing will form a snug fit inside the pipet.) Keep the gas bag away
from flames. Open the pinch clamp and ignite the gas issuing from the
pipet. Gently press down on the gas bag to control and sustain the flame.
To stop the combustion, pinch the tubing shut.
Figure 5. The gas bag being used to discharge a flammable gas at a
constant rate.
Figure 6. The gas bag used to generate strange musical sounds.
Combustion of hydrogen in oxygen demonstration. A flask as a musical
instrument?
Generate oxygen and hydrogen in separate gas bags and
label them. Fill a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask with oxygen from the gas
bag and stopper it until needed. Refer to Figure 6 for a pictorial representation
of the apparatus and procedure: Connect the hydrogen gas bag’s tubing
to a 5 mm OD, 15 cm piece of glass (a pipet will not work) held in position
with the aid of a ring stand and clamp as per the figure. Keep the
gas bags away from flames. Remove the clamp/hemostat and immediately
ignite the hydrogen issuing from the glass tubing. If necessary, gently
press down on the gas bag to control and sustain the flame. Slip the
flask of oxygen over the burning hydrogen and move the flask over the flaming
glass tube. As the glass tube/flame moves deeper into the flask, the pitch
will drop. Move the flask “on and off” to cause the pitch to vary.
The flask will become hot. To stop the combustion, remove the flask
and pinch the tubing shut. Note the water vapor in the flask!
View a QuickTime video of this musical demonstration.
Clean-up and storage
We have reused gas storage bags several times without
problems.