Posted on 08/10/2020 11:09:49 AM PDT by cdnerds
A massive explosion in Baltimore leveling homes.
“NG is heavier than air and settles at the lowest point, being the basement.”
Incorrect. Molecular weight of air is 29 and molecular weight of natural gas is 19.5.
You would be correct for butane and propane.
It is amazing that with that kind of an explosion NO ONE smelled gas!!
It’s basic chemistry. The molecular weight of natural gas (methane) is 16. The molecular weight of air is something like 29 (most of air is nitrogen - molecular weight of 28 and most of the rest is oxygen - molecular weight of 32).
Hydrogen (molecular weight of 2) and helium (atomic weight of 4) are used for lighter than airships because their weights are less than that of air. Hydrogen would be preferred (if it wasn’t so combustible) because it is lighter than helium and thus has more bouyancy. In principle, methane could be used, but it wouldn’t have much lift.
Propane (C3H8) has a molecular weight of 44, so, yes, it is heavier than air and will settle. Butane (C4H10) has a molecular weight of 58, so it will settle.
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