Examples of Gases

Gases are the most common state of matter in the universe, and they make up 99% of our atmosphere. Gases consist of a collection of particles that have a low density, allowing them to take up a large volume. gases are also much less dense than solids or liquids, meaning they take up less space. 

Gases can be found in many different places in the natural world. One of the most common gases is air, which makes up about 21% of the Earth's atmosphere. Air is a mixture of different gases, including nitrogen (78% of air), oxygen (21% of air), argon (0.93% of air), carbon dioxide (0.03% of air), and water vapour. Other common gases include methane, which is found in natural gas and landfill gas, and helium, which is the second most common element in the universe.

Helium is used in balloons, blimps, and balloons, along with hydrogen. Gases can be removed from a system by using a vacuum pump to create a vacuum that causes the gas particles to move more slowly. A porous plug may also be used so the gas particles have an easier time leaving the system. Gases can also be cooled to a very low temperature, which will cause them to freeze. gases can also be heated to a very high temperature, which will cause them to vaporize.

How Gases Behave

Gases behave differently than solids or liquids because their particles are far apart and are not in any specific order. This means that gases can be compressed more than solids or liquids because the particles are not touching each other. Gases also expand. While most gases behave Similarly, different types of gases do have unique properties. Air for example has a much lower density than helium at the same volume and temperature. Gases are also not affected by gravity the way that liquids or solids are. If one were to release gas into space it would expand outward from its original location until it came into contact with some other object or space.

Examples of gases

One example of a gas is steam. This form of water vapour occurs when the liquid water comes into contact with high temperatures, which causes it to turn into a gas before coming back down as liquid again due to low temperature. Another example of a common gas is carbon dioxide, which is produced by animals as they breathe, as well as when organic matter is burnt. Carbon dioxide can also be produced by other chemical reactions like the fermentation of sugar in beer and soda making. Other examples of gases include air, argon, helium, methane, and nitrous oxide. Air which makes up about 21% of Earth's atmosphere is found nearly everywhere on Earth. It is a mixture of different gases including nitrogen (78% of air), oxygen (21% of air), and argon (0.93% of air). Helium is the second most common element in the universe, but it behaves like gas on Earth because it has such low density compared to other materials. Other examples of gases include methane, which is found in natural gas and landfill gas, and nitrous oxide, which is also known as laughing gas.

Easy Understanding of the Concept with Proper Examples of Gases

Matter exists in three different states. One of the important states of matter is gas. It is different from that of the other two states of matter in terms of physical and chemical properties. To learn elaborately about gases and their different properties along with suitable examples, you can refer to this concept page developed by the experts of Vedantu. Here you will find the exact answer to the question of what is the meaning of gas. The proper explanation of the concepts with good examples will help you grab the concepts easily.

This page has been developed for those students who are willing to delve a little deeper into this chapter of chemistry and make their knowledge base stronger. It will also help students to understand the differences between a solid, liquid, and gas. Even though we cannot see gas, it still exists. We can perceive it either by our smell or by any reaction that triggers any of our senses. Keep on reading this page to seek more knowledge and gather more confidence by learning about gases.

What is the Meaning of Gas?

The term gas denotes the particular state of matter where the molecules roam freely and can take the shape of any container in which it is kept. The molecules of this matter are packed slightly with a minimum intermolecular force between them. Due to the less binding force, gases do not have any particular shape. They can exist in any shape in an even way. Due to less intermolecular force between the gas particles, there is a huge space between them. This is why most of the gases are colourless and invisible. It is because of the huge amount of space between the gas molecules, this state of matter can be easily compressed using pressure.

Unlike solids and liquids, gases tend to acquire the entire space in which they are kept. As mentioned earlier, the gas molecules are not bound together with a huge intermolecular force, they can roam freely in space. This is why the gas molecules can travel to any portion of a container and fill it evenly. They also don’t have a definite volume or shape. They take the entire shape of the containers in which they are kept. There are many examples of gases you will find when you will study this chapter. If you consider the atmosphere blanketing our earth, you will find nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. as the commonest examples of gases.

Physical Properties of Gases

The atmosphere is the perfect example of gases. The air we breathe in can also be considered as a mixture of many gases. Gases can either be an element or a compound. In the modern periodic table, many elements behave like gases but only 11 of them exist in this state in the standard temperature and pressure (STP). Those elements that exist in a gaseous state under 1 atmospheric pressure are called gases. Those 11 gases are Helium, Argon, Neon, Krypton, Radon, Xenon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Chlorine, Fluorine, and Oxygen. These are called pure gasses as they are all elements. You can use these names as the perfect example of gas matter.

Differences Between Gases and the Other States of Matter

Now that you have learned what gasses are, let us take a look into the differences between gasses and the other states of matter.

Solids have a definite shape as the molecules are not free to move. A liquid can partially take the shape of a container but up to its level. Gasses, on the other hand, can travel to the farthest corner of the container to fill it with their molecules.

Solids can be compressed to the slightest extent. Liquids can be compressed slightly but gases can be compressed to a huge extent due to the huge intermolecular space in between the particles.

Different Applications of Gases

The different properties of gases make them useful for many different applications. Gases are used in the production process for some chemical reactions. For example, hydrogen reacts with chlorine to form hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen is also used in the Haber process to make ammonia. Oxygen is also used for this purpose. Gasses are both useful and dangerous for many different reasons. Some gasses are combustible, meaning they can easily ignite and create a fire. Others, like carbon dioxide, can be used as fire extinguishers. But gasses can also be used to create other dangerous substances like chlorine gas, which was used during World War I and II to create chemical warfare.