Hydreliox
Encyclopedia
Hydreliox is an exotic breathing gas
mixture of helium
, oxygen
and hydrogen
.
It is used primarily for research and scientific deep diving
, usually below 130 metres (426.5 ft). Below this depth, extended breathing of heliox
gas mixtures may cause high pressure nervous syndrome
(HPNS). Two gas mixtures exist that attempt to combat this problem: trimix and hydreliox. Like trimix, hydreliox contains helium and oxygen and a third gas to prevent HPNS. The third gas in trimix is nitrogen
and the third gas in hydreliox is hydrogen
. Because hydrogen is the lightest element, it is easier to breathe than nitrogen
under high pressure.
Hydreliox has been tested to depths in excess of 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) by COMEX S.A.
, a French diving company. Unfortunately, although it was initially believed that breathing hydreliox would prevent the sort of symptoms seen in nitrogen narcosis
, the COMEX tests showed that hydrogen narcosis
became a factor at depths deeper than 300 metres.
Breathing gas
Breathing gas is a mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration.Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas...
mixture of helium
Helium
Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
, oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
and hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
.
It is used primarily for research and scientific deep diving
Deep diving
The meaning of the term deep diving is a form of technical diving. It is defined by the level of the diver's diver training, diving equipment, breathing gas, and surface support:...
, usually below 130 metres (426.5 ft). Below this depth, extended breathing of heliox
Heliox
Heliox is a breathing gas composed of a mixture of helium and oxygen .Heliox has been used medically since the 1930s, and although the medical community adopted it initially to alleviate symptoms of upper airway obstruction, its range of medical uses has since expanded greatly, mostly because of...
gas mixtures may cause high pressure nervous syndrome
High pressure nervous syndrome
High-pressure nervous syndrome is a neurological and physiological diving disorder that results when a commercial diver or scuba diver descends below about while breathing a helium–oxygen mixture. The effects depend on the rate of descent and the depth...
(HPNS). Two gas mixtures exist that attempt to combat this problem: trimix and hydreliox. Like trimix, hydreliox contains helium and oxygen and a third gas to prevent HPNS. The third gas in trimix is nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
and the third gas in hydreliox is hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
. Because hydrogen is the lightest element, it is easier to breathe than nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
under high pressure.
Hydreliox has been tested to depths in excess of 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) by COMEX S.A.
S.A. (corporation)
S.A. designates a particular type of corporation in various countries, mostly those employing the civil law. It originated in Spain during the 16th century. Depending on language, the abbreviation stands for various phrases meaning anonymous society, anonymous company, anonymous partnership, or...
, a French diving company. Unfortunately, although it was initially believed that breathing hydreliox would prevent the sort of symptoms seen in nitrogen narcosis
Nitrogen narcosis
Narcosis while diving , is a reversible alteration in consciousness that occurs while scuba diving at depth. The Greek word ναρκωσις is derived from narke, "temporary decline or loss of senses and movement, numbness", a term used by Homer and Hippocrates...
, the COMEX tests showed that hydrogen narcosis
Hydrogen narcosis
Hydrogen narcosis is the psychotropic state induced by breathing hydrogen at high pressures. Hydrogen narcosis produces symptoms such as hallucinations, disorientation, and confusion, which are similar to hallucinogenic drugs. It can be experienced by deep-sea divers who dive to below sea level...
became a factor at depths deeper than 300 metres.
See also
- Argox
- HelioxHelioxHeliox is a breathing gas composed of a mixture of helium and oxygen .Heliox has been used medically since the 1930s, and although the medical community adopted it initially to alleviate symptoms of upper airway obstruction, its range of medical uses has since expanded greatly, mostly because of...
- HydroxHydrox (breathing gas)Hydrox, a gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, is used as a breathing gas in very deep diving. It allows divers to descend several hundred metres....
- Nitrox
- Trimix