Is Inhaling Hydrogen and Oxygen Safe for Your Health?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Kalrag
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SUMMARY

Inhaling two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen, as produced by a Hydrogen Fuel Cell, is safe and poses no health risks. However, inhaling a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen from tanks can lead to severe health hazards, including potential lung damage due to high pressure. While the hydrogen-oxygen mixture is safe under controlled conditions, such as in deep scuba diving to prevent nitrogen narcosis, it is not commonly used due to the risks associated with ignition. Fuel cells generate water rather than splitting it, which is a critical distinction in understanding their operation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
  • Knowledge of gas mixtures and their properties
  • Familiarity with scuba diving gas mixtures
  • Basic principles of combustion and ignition risks
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the safety protocols for using hydrogen and oxygen mixtures in diving
  • Learn about the operation and safety of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
  • Investigate the effects of high-pressure gas inhalation on human health
  • Explore alternatives to hydrogen in deep diving, such as helium-oxygen mixtures
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for safety engineers, scuba diving instructors, and individuals interested in the applications and risks of hydrogen and oxygen in various environments.

Kalrag
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Just a quick question; if someone was to inhale two atoms of Hydrogen and one atom of Oxygen, say from a Hydrogen Fuel Cell where it splits water, would it be safe or would it cause health problems if you inhaled it for a period of time?
 
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JUST 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 of oxygen? It would be perfectly safe, as there isn't nearly enough to do anything to you.

However, if you breathe from a tank of hydrogen and a tank of oxygen at the same time...well...bad things might happen. Such as your lungs being blown to the outside of your body.
 
Kalrag said:
Just a quick question; if someone was to inhale two atoms of Hydrogen and one atom of Oxygen, say from a Hydrogen Fuel Cell where it splits water, would it be safe or would it cause health problems if you inhaled it for a period of time?

I don't think you have to worry about atoms of hydrogen or oxygen being given off from a fuel cell ... molecules perhaps, but not atoms.
 
Breathing oxygen/hydrogen mixture is both safe and dangerous.

Safe - as without a source of ignition this mixture is as good for breathing as air is (especially if partial pressure of oxygen is OK). I think this mixture was tested for really deep scuba diving, as it helps to prevent nitrogen narcosis.

Dangerous - as source of ignition may make you look like Fukushima reactor building. That why hydrogen is NOT routinely used in deep scuba diving - helium/oxygen mixtures have similar properties, but are much safer.
 
http://blog.healia.com/files/u5/no_smoking.jpg
 

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