Spotlight on: CO2

Carbon Dioxide was first identified in the 1750s by Joseph Black, a Scottish chemist and physician. It’s a molecule with the formula CO2, and it consists of one carbon atom double bonded to two oxygen atoms: O=C=O. It can be in gaseous form, which is odourless and colourless at room temperatures of 20-25 ^oC. It can also be solid and liquid, and in the earth’s atmosphere at a concentration of around 0.04%, it’s a vital gas in all life on earth.

Now that the chemistry talk is over, what are its uses in daily life? We’re sure you’ve wondered many times how CO2 improves life, and we’ve compiled a list to help you out.

 

Fire Extinguishers

You’ve surely, and hopefully, seen many fire extinguishers when you’re out and about in restaurants, in the cinema, and in every type of building. Many are CO2 based, helpful in small flammable fires. A fire is a dangerous, fast-acting catastrophe that can consume a house in minutes. Fires work because they have three main components: air (oxygen), fuel, and heat.

So how do CO2 fire extinguishers work? They are made of a mixture of liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide at a high pressure. When released, the gas expands and cools down what it touches. Ever seen those films where it comes out as a big white cloud and it extinguishes a fire? It works like that, by smothering the oxygen and cooling the fire.

 

Paintball Guns

There is nothing like paintballing in the summer; you feel the warm sun and the cool breeze as you run around shooting your friends full of paint. If you’re a beginner, a CO2 gun is the perfect choice for you: CO2 is not expensive and it’s easy to use.

If you’re on a more advanced level, you can add an expansion chamber to allow the CO2 more time to expand before reaching the valve, or a regulator to regulate its flow. These upgrades will help prevent your shots from varying 30 feet and allow you to make more accurate shots.

 

Hydroponics and Plant Growth

CO2 helps produce faster and more productive crop plants, if used correctly. The first step is to make sure your garden is in top shape to be able to take advantage of the CO2 intake, so make sure that things like temperature, light, and air flow are all regulated.

In hydroponics, where you grow plants in water instead of soil, and in regular plant growth CO2 is used to build plant matter that will strengthen the plant and ensure that it yields a substantial amount. Monitoring the balance of the CO2 is key for strong growing plants, so make sure to keep an eye on it!

 

Here at Adams Gas we sell a wide variety of products, to make sure you find the right gas canister for your home or business. We ensure that all of our products have regular safety checks because your safety is our top priority. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us on 01843 220 596 or through our Facebook and Twitter pages.