This document provides information on the physical properties of various gases. It describes 15 common gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, ozone, ammonia, chlorine and others. For each gas, it lists properties such as color, odor, solubility, density relative to air, and whether they are flammable, toxic or can be liquefied. It also briefly mentions some warfare gases and fuel gases including water gas and producer gas.

1. P R A S H A N T M E H T A , P H . D .
E D U . S T R A T E G Y C O N S U L T A N T
E M A I L - P R A S H A N T M E H T A 1 @ R E D I F F M A I L . C O M
GASES
IMPORTANT PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

2. Colourless,
Odourless,
Tasteless,
Lightest Gas,
Sparingly Soluble in Water,
Combustible and Burns in Air or
Oxygen with Nearly Invisible Pale
Blue Flame,
Neutral, can be Liquefied and
Solidified
HYDROGEN (H2)

3. Colourless,
Faint odour,
Tasteless,
As Heavy as Air,
Very Sparingly Soluble in Water,
Burns in Air Blue Flame,
Neutral,
Poisonous
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

4. Colourless,
Faint,
Pungent Smell,
1.5 times Heavier than Air and can be
poured downward like water,
Fairly Soluble in Water,
Acidic,
Non-poisonous,
Can be Liquefied and Solidified
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

5. Colourless,
Odourless,
Tasteless,
Slightly Lighter than Air,
Slightly Soluble in Water,
Non Poisonous,
Can be liquefied.
NITROGEN (N2)

6. Laughing Gas -
Colourless,
Faint Pungent Smell,
Fairly Soluble in Cold Water but not
in Hot Water,
Heavier than Air,
Poisonous
NITROGEN OXIDE (N2O)

7. Colourless,
Slightly Heavier than Air,
Sparingly Soluble in Water,
Paramagnetic,
Neutral,
Can be Liquefied with great difficulty
NITRIC OXIDE (NO)

8. Reddish Brown Gas
On Cooling gives Deep Blue Liquid
DI NITROGEN TRIOXIDE /
NITROUS ANHYDRIDE
(N2O3)

9. Reddish Brown Gas,
Paramagnetic in Nature
NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO)

10. Colourless Solid (exist below 10 ◦C)
Diamagnetic in Nature
NITROGEN TETRAOXIDE
(N2O4)

11. Colourless,
Characteristic Pungent Smell,
Lighter than Air,
Extremely Soluble in Water,
Brings Tears in Eyes,
Basic in Nature
Can be Liquefied and Solidified
AMMONIA (NH3)

12. Colourless,
Odourless,
Tasteless,
Slightly Heavier than Air,
Slightly Soluble in Water,
Can be Liquefied and Solidified,
Non-inflammable,
Paramagnetic
OXYGEN (O2)

13. Pale Blue,
Fishy Smell,
Slightly Heavier than Air,
Slightly Soluble in Water,
Can be Liquefied,
Poisonous due to its Destructive Action
on Tissues,
Turns Starch Iodide Paper Blue
Hg loses its Meniscus in contact with O3
OZONE (O3)

14. Colourless,
Smell of Rotten Eggs,
Soluble in Water,
Poisonous in Nature
HYDROGEN SULPHIDE (H2S)

15. Colourless,
Pungent and Suffocating Smell,
Heavier than Air,
Soluble in Water,
Can be Liquefied and Solidified
SULPHUR DIOXIDE (SO2)

16. Greenish Yellow Colour,
Suffocating Smell,
2.5 Times Heavier than Air,
Fairly Soluble in Water,
Poisonous,
Can be Liquefied
CHLORINE (Cl2)

17. Reddish Brown Colour,
Heavier than Air,
Highly Soluble in Water,
Poisonous,
Turns Starch paper Yellow
BROMINE (Br2)

18. Violet Colour,
Sparingly Soluble in Water,
IODINE (I2)

19. Colourless,
Pungent Smelling,
Acidic Taste,
Fairly Soluble in Water,
Heavier than Air,
Can be Liquefied
HYDROGEN HALIDE (HX)

20. Used for Production of H2 and as a
Fuel
WATER GAS (CO + H2)

21. Used as Fuel
PRODUCER GAS
(CO + N2 + Little CO2)

22. PHOSGENE –(COCl2)
MUSTARD GAS – (ClC2H4-S-C2H4Cl)
TEAR GAS – (CCl3.NO2)
WARFARE GASES