Who among us did not like balloons as a child? One look at colorful balloons reaching for the sky was enough to create a festive mood and expect something good. And such a picture leaves a rare adult indifferent. It is not for nothing that a celebration of any scale is rarely complete without balloons. True, filling the balloons with helium today is a costly pleasure. That is why we bring to your attention this anti-crisis life hack and curious chemical experience at the same time. Cheap and cheerful!
To make any balloon go up even without a helium tank, you will need the following ingredients:
1. glass vessel with a narrow throat;
2. Half a liter of water;
3. Foil;
4. Means for cleaning pipes in granules ( sodium hydroxide);
5. Balloon
From small pieces of foil, make about a dozen balls. They should easily pass into the neck of the vessel.
Pour the pipe cleaning pellets into the container.
Pour half a liter of water into the flask.
Now put the balls inside.
The chemical reaction will begin to occur almost immediately, so hurry up to "put" the ball on the neck of the flask. The main condition - do not shake the mixture. Otherwise, at best, your balloon will not fly, and at worst, it will explode. Instead, let both the vessel and the balloon on top cool for about half a minute, and then remove and tie.
Preparation for the holiday should be thorough, especially for events for children. Boys and girls are indescribably delighted when they see helium balloons pointing upwards. Such festive attributes give the atmosphere a special atmosphere, but it is not always possible to assemble a composition from balloons from professionals. In an emergency, look for alternative ways at home.
Table salt and copper sulfate
Prepare in advance cool filtered water, food foil, glass bottle, table salt and blue vitriol. Wear rubber gloves, a hooded gown and goggles to avoid skin damage.
- Unfold a sheet of foil and cut a 18*18 cm plate into thin lines of about 0.5 cm, then send the strips to a liter glass bottle. Then pour 75 gr. copper sulfate and 85 gr. crushed table salt. Immediately cover the neck with your hand to prevent a reaction due to the admission of oxygen.
- On this stage you will need the help of a friend, because the procedure must be carried out quickly. Pour into a bottle of 430 ml. filtered water, quickly put a ball on the neck and hold it at the base. Keep in mind that the reaction will start instantly, you will know about it by the state of the mixture, it will go into the gaseous phase.
- Try not to release the mixture "for nothing", one such composition is enough for several balls. On average, one balloon will inflate for about 4 seconds, so don't hesitate.
Important!
Keep your face away from the mixture bottle to avoid damage to the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes. If the ball bursts or breaks off the neck, you can be seriously injured. Hold the vessel at arm's length.
When will it start chemical reaction, the bottle will become hot in a short time. To avoid burns, you can dip it in cool water or squeeze it with an unnecessary cloth / towel.
Sodium hydroxide
The alkaline solution is dangerous for the skin, so be sure to wear gloves, a gown, goggles. Sodium hydroxide is a mixture caustic soda and concentrated (caustic) sodium, which in itself is unsafe. Carry out the procedure away from children and pets, be sure to ventilate the room before and after inflating the balloons.
Prepare warm filtered water, sodium hydroxide (alkali), industrial or hookah foil (dense), a liter glass bottle.
- Type in a bottle of 450 ml. clean warm water.
- Take one sheet of foil measuring 20*20 cm. Divide it into thin lines or chop it into very small pieces, add to the water tank.
- Measure exactly 20 gr. sodium hydroxide and carefully pour it into the bottle, be sure to do this with gloves.
- Pull the base of the ball over the neck of the vessel, hold it tight so that the ball does not fly off.
- Shake the container, the foil should be completely immersed in the composition.
- You will see that the balloon will begin to inflate, do not try to get too much helium at a time, it is better to spread the composition over several steps.
This technique is considered the safest, because it does not include alkali or other industrial concentrates. However, precautions must be observed. Always use silicone or rubber gloves, goggles, and a gown.
Prepare a solution of vinegar (ordinary table vinegar), its concentration should not exceed 9%. Make sure you have baking soda handy.
- The peculiarity of the method is that the composition is poured not only into a bottle, but also into a ball. Pour into a vessel 45-55 ml. vinegar solution, pour 30 gr. baking soda, then put its base on the neck of the container.
- Gently turn the bowl over so that the soda spills into the vinegar. The reaction will take place instantly: the container will become warm, and the balloon will begin to inflate.
- To fill the next balls, clean the bottle cavity from the previous composition, wipe dry and repeat the manipulations. The container must be dry, otherwise moisture will suppress the reaction.
Electrodes and battery
To prepare the composition, you will need to acquire a 12-watt battery, an electrolyte (sulfuric acid or potassium hydroxide is suitable), graphite electrodes (not copper!). In addition to the main components, take care of the presence of two liter plastic bottles, a plastic basin for linen and clean filtered water. As in all previous methods, protect your skin and eyes (put on a gown, gloves, goggles).
- Take a 15 liter basin, fill it clean water half.
- Pour potassium hydroxide/sulfuric acid (electrolyte) into the first liter bottle, retreating from the edge of the neck by 3-4 cm.
- Take the ball and put the base on the opening of the vessel, then make small holes in the bottom of the vessel and insert the electrode. Observe the tightness, the holes should not be wide so that the device fits snugly into the vessel.
- Do the same with the second bottle, following the sequence. When everything is ready, move on to the next step.
- Place both bottles in the basin, place the battery next to it and connect the electrodes to it, observing the polarity (plus “+”, minus “-”).
- Connect the battery to a power source, watch for the start of the reaction.
An important feature of this method is that only one ball, located on the side with negative polarity, can go up (it will be filled with hydrogen). The second ball will be saturated with oxygen, so there is little sense from it.
Make sure you have on hand necessary materials and tools, observe safety precautions. Complex methods using electrodes and a battery, as well as sodium hydroxide, should be entrusted to a man. Women will be able to translate into reality the preparation of the composition of soda and vinegar, salt and blue vitriol.
Video: do-it-yourself flying ball without helium
The flying balloon is perfect for any holiday event. Usually, purchased flying balloons are filled with a light volatile gas such as helium. At home, it is almost impossible to get such gas without special equipment. But helium is not the only gas that can be used for such purposes. At home, without too much work, you can get hydrogen, which is also suitable.
But here it is worth considering that hydrogen is extremely explosive, so it is undesirable to make more than one ball. And in general, the whole experiment should be carried out outside the houses and in the open air.
It will take
For experience we need:- - aluminium foil,
- - pipe cleaner (Titanium, Mole) - Caution! Alkali!
- - plastic bottle,
- - bucket with water,
- - rubber ball
- - funnel,
- - water,
- - etc.
We make a flying ball with our own hands
When conducting the experiment, be sure to use rubber gloves and special goggles to protect your eyes!First of all, roll the kitchen foil into small strips and cut into small pieces. And collect in a small plastic cup.
We got 7 grams, you can take more foil, the reaction will go faster and there will be more hydrogen.
We also take a pipe cleaner (TITAN or MOLE) in granules, 19 grams is enough for us. Be careful this is a caustic substance, wear rubber gloves. In case of contact with hands, rinse with plenty of water.
Next, we take a plastic bottle, filling it one third with water, and lower it into a bucket with cold water. For convenience, we take a funnel and pour our aluminum crumbs and pipe cleaner into the bottle, after which we quickly put the ball on the neck of the bottle so as not to release hydrogen. It is better to isolate the neck of the bottle with electrical tape.
The reaction begins, the ball is completely inflated in about 15-20 minutes, the plastic bottle is heated and so that it does not melt from overheating, it is dipped into a bucket of cold water.
As a result of the reaction of aluminum, sodium hydroxide and water, sodium tetrahydroxoaluminate and hydrogen are formed, which inflates our balloon.
When the ball is inflated, we squeeze the bottle so that part of the hydrogen from the bottle goes into the ball, twist the tail tighter and remove the electrical tape, after which we remove the ball from the neck.
We wash the tail with water, if our balloon is not completely inflated, you can blow it up a little like a regular balloon.
We ask someone to hold the ball and tightly tie the tail.
The ball flies very well and will delight you and your children. In order for the balloon not to deflate in half a day, use a gel for flying balloons, for example, “hi float”.
Conclusion
At the end of the experiment, I would like to add that such a ball will descend to the ground in about 6-12 hours of flight. To increase this time, you can use a special gel, which is sprayed in specialized stores selling such balls.Be careful: a pipe cleaner (Titanium, Mole) is used to make the ball - this is a caustic alkali, be extremely careful!
Also inflated balloon do not bring close to fire. Otherwise, the hydrogen in the balloon will bang with a loud bang.
Balloons are able to decorate any holiday and create a unique atmosphere in the room.
Inflate the balloon first maximum size, and then release 10% of the air out of it, so you can extend the life of the balloon, because its surface will become more elastic.
Before filling the balloon with helium, fill it with air and then deflate it. This additional maneuver will increase the size of the balloon when inflated with helium by 10% and increase its service life. Also, gas leakage can be avoided if the ball is defective.
Do not pre-inflate balloons with helium, because inflated balloons will be able to stay in the air for no more than 18 hours (with a diameter of 30 cm). It is best to inflate the balloons directly on the day of the celebration.
Sources:
- balloons how to inflate
You can inflate balloons at home using a homemade hydrogen plant. To make it, you will need a bottle, copper sulfate, salt, a syringe, a hose, and copper and aluminum wires.
Balloons are an invariable attribute of the holiday, but what if you have to inflate a large number of balloons, but no helium cylinders? No problem. You can get your own hydrogen without even leaving your home. To do this, you need a simple plastic bottle, a syringe, a hose, a natural cork, blue vitriol, copper wire, aluminum wire, and preferably aluminum foil, sealant, edible salt, and the actual balloons themselves.
As a replacement for aluminum wire or foil, you can use an aluminum can, the only condition is that you need to clean it inner surface from paint and protective polymer layer. And yet - all work is best done in protective gloves and goggles.
Stages of assembling a hydrogen plant
Two holes need to be drilled in the bottle cap: one for the hose, the other for the syringe. For better attachment of the syringe on its tip and in one of the holes on the cap, it is desirable to make a thread. Fix the syringe and hose in the holes made, and coat their joints with sealant. Put a plug on the free end of the hose - it will secure the ball. A copper wire must be attached to the syringe piston, and the junction should also be treated with a sealant. An aluminum wire or crumpled foil is required to be tied to the free end of the attached wire. The piston will allow free movement of the aluminum reagent in the bottle.
By inserting the aluminum reagent into the bottle and closing the lid, you can get a ready-made hydrogen plant. To start its operation, the cap from the bottle together with the aluminum reagent must be removed, and copper sulfate and edible salt should be poured into the bottle in a 1: 1 ratio. Pour in water and wait until the mixture is completely dissolved. The contents of the bottle need cold, for this it can be placed in a basin of cold water. A balloon is put on the cork fixed at the end of the hose, after which the aluminum must be immersed in a solution of vitriol and salt and the lid is screwed on.
How is the process of inflating the balloon
The reaction will follow immediately: the hydrogen released will fill the balloon. As the aluminum oxide film dissolves and the solution is heated, the reaction will only accelerate. In case of too rapid hydrogen evolution, aluminum can be removed from the solution by pulling the syringe plunger towards you. Pulling the balloon directly on the neck of the bottle is strictly prohibited! The resulting balls can be left in the form in which they are, or you can stick around them with white or black bags, as well as attach an LED and launch the ball in the dark.
When decorating holidays with balloons, helium balloons are often used. We will tell you how to properly inflate with helium and tie balloons.
You will need
- - cylinder with compressed helium (volume 10 liters or 40 liters);
- - 12" latex balloons;
- - braid for tying inflated balloons - decorative polypropylene tape 5 mm wide;
- - scissors for cutting tape.
Instruction
Install the helium gas cylinder correctly and safely. When inflating balloons with helium, the balloon must be installed in a way that prevents it from falling, tipping over and any movement. Large cylinders (40 l) are placed in a standing position. Small cylinders (10 l) can be placed horizontally, provided they are securely fixed on a table or on the floor.
We prepare the tape. For tying helium balloons, as a rule, pieces of braid 1.5 m long are used. We cut the required number of ends of the braid (according to the number of balloons) with scissors. For children's holidays, the ends of the braid are made longer: 2.0-2.5 m - so that children can get them. The main thing is that all ends of the braid have the same length.
Balloons are an essential attribute of festive events. Therefore, in this material we tell you how to inflate a balloon without helium. To make it fly, you must use one of the methods below at home.
Ways to inflate a balloon without helium so that it flies
Since it is impossible to inflate a balloon with helium without a balloon, we advise you to choose an alternative. At home, it is quite simple to do this by considering our life hacks.
No. 1. Alkali
To carry out manipulations by the hydrogen method, you must take:
- warm water;
- flask;
- foil;
- a teaspoon;
- alkali (for example, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)).
1. Pour water into the flask to fill the container ½. Send inside the foil cut into small pieces.
2. Measure out 3 tablespoons of soda and pour. Now, without delay, pull the ball over the neck of the flask.
3. Shake the container to start the reaction of the foil with sodium hydroxide. Hold the ball by the rubber band, it should not come off.
4. When the foil pieces dissolve and the balloon is inflated to your needs, remove it and make a knot.
Now you know how to do gel ball at home.
No. 2. Battery with electrodes
Prepare the following:
- plastic basin (volume 15 l.);
- plastic bottles (2 pcs., 1 liter each);
- purified water;
- battery (12 watts);
- electrolyte (sulfuric acid);
- electrode (not strictly copper, but graphite).
Before inflating a balloon without helium, protect your eyes, breathing passages and skin. To make it fly better follow step by step instructions at home.
1. Pour water into the basin so that the liquid fills about ½ of the container. Now take plastic bottle 1, fill it with electrolyte, stepping back from the neck by 3 cm.
2. Pull the ball over. Now make holes at the bottom of the bottle very tightly by inserting an electrode into them. The device must fit tightly enough so that the composition does not leak out.
3. Do the same with bottle 2. Now place these containers in the basin, put the battery nearby with the electrodes connected to it (follow the polarity +, -).
4. Connect the battery to the network, watch the process. A balloon stretched over a bottle with “-” polarity will be filled with hydrogen and rise, and the second one will be filled with oxygen, but will not fly.
No. 3. Copper sulfate with salt
Before inflating a balloon without helium, you need to prepare in advance:
- cool purified water;
- glass bottle;
- foil;
- table salt;
- copper sulfate.
To make it fly, follow the simple instructions at home. Protect your hands with gloves and wear goggles for protection.
1. From a piece of foil 20 * 20 cm, you need to cut strips of about 5 mm. Send the finished ribbons to a glass bottle.
2. Pour 85 gr. into the same container. salt and 75 gr. vitriol. Close the neck immediately. A reaction will start due to the supply of oxygen.
3. You can't do without an assistant, so act quickly. Pour into a bottle of 0.45 liters. purified water. Put the balloon on the neck immediately.
4. Hold it, otherwise it will fly off. The reaction will start immediately. You will be able to inflate several balloons, so don't waste your gas.
