VOCAL FUN WITH CHEMICAL GASES
The science of chemistry is very broad, It goes a long way from our basic chemical enivironment to future numerous benefits. This post will enumerate on the FUN aspect of Chemistry, specifically Chemistry of the voice.
We might all be aware of gases that can change the pitches of our voices, most popular is inhaling the Helium gas. Yes, the helium gas we use to fill our balloons can make us sound like Chipmunks.
HELIUM
The helium gas is so light even air is way heavier. Nitrogen alone (still a component of air) is about seven times heavier than Helium. It is the second compound on the periodic table with Atomic number and mass number of 2 and 4.002 respectively. It is surprisingly the second most abundant element in the known UNIVERSE after Hydrogen. It possess a boiling and melting point -452.1°F and -458.0°F, respectively.
EFFECT OF HELIUM ON THE VOICE
Helium makes the voice lighter than normal (Chipmunk-style) when inhaled. If the gas is inhaled, it changes the gas molecules in the air tract inside you.
In physics, the speed of a wave is equal to its frequency multiplied by its wavelength. Therefore, if a sound wave travels faster through a vocal tract full of helium than it would through a vocal tract full of air, either its frequency or its wavelength must get a boost in a helium-filled cavity, too, hereby leading to the Daffy-Duck when the person vibrates his vocal cords (i.e when the person speaks).
So It can be drawn that the gas doesn’t actually change the pitch of the voice, rather, it affects the “timbre”.
Another gas that has a fun effect on the voice is;
SULFUR HEXAFLUORIDE
Sulfur Hexafluoride, having the chemical formula SF6, is a colorless,odorless, non-inflammable and inorganic gas. −64 °C; −83 °F; 209 K and −50.8 °C (−59.4 °F; 222.3 K) are it’s melting and boiling points respectively.
This chemical compound when inhaled makes the voice deeper compared to the lighter effect of the Helium gas. Like the Helium gas that is 7 time’s lighter than air, Sulfur hexafluoride is 6 times heavier than air. This alone should give a picture of where the deepness is coming from. So the action demonstrates how sound travels through a very dense gas. So SF6 can actually give you the dream bass you always wanted, literally.
Sulfur hexafluoride, because of its inert nature, also have applications in the casting of magnesium and also as an inert filling for insulated glazing windows.
So it’s still good we all know the useful applications of these gases and not just their fun advantages.
XENON
Xenon is another inert gas that is heavier than air and has a deepening effect like the SF6 gas.
Xenon is a chemical element with symbol Xe and atomic number 54 with the mass number of . It is a colorless, dense, odorless noble gas found in the Earth's atmosphere in very trace amounts.
So if you want to sound like the popular Morgan a freeman, Xenon is a sure bet. Although the gas is very expensive and rare in nature, so it’s rather not so famous for “fun”.
NITROUS OXIDE, N20
It is commonly known as laughing gas. As it’s name, when inhaled it causes a pleasurable feeling and can cause laughter in the person inhaling. It has the added benefit of “relaxing” you and soothens pain. It is often used by dentist during surgeries.
So in conclusion, if you need a laugh, N20 is there to make up your day;
Do you need to sound like Alvin the Chipmunk, Helium which is not so expensive is here to save the day;
Do you need to impersonate a Monster, SF6 is right there in the options list.
DISCLAIMER: GASES ARE NOT SO FUN AS THEY SEEM
Inhaling just any other gas that is not the normal air we breathe can be very lethal to us. The after-inhalation effects might be so much fun but continuous inhalation can severely damage the lungs and lead to deadly results such as stroke and even immediate death. Helium is the safest among these gases, but too much of it can still be deadly, it causes light-headedness and even asphyxia on low levels of intake, a huge dose can lead to death also; trying out SF6 should need the assistance and tutelage of an expert.
So watch out for your safety while having fun with these amazingly special gases.
Proud member of@steemstem
Proud supporter of the @genesisproject
And a proud member of @stemng
Thanks for coming by, it’s your faithful engineer,
gif by @foundation
credit @steemiteducation