[TheForge] Argon-CO2 mix question

[Bruce Freeman]

Stratifying by density will only occur before the
gases mix.  Once mixed, they stay mixed.  They can be
un-mixed only by applying "work" (in the Physics
sense).

Therefore, if CO2 + argon are mixed at room
temperature and pressure, they stay mixed.  If you
compress them (work) AND a condensation (liquid CO2)
occurs, then they MIGHT separate, at least partly. 
For them not to separate under these circumstances,
the composition of the original mixture would have to
correspond to an azeotrope (a constant-boiling
mixture).

Not having a phase diagram for CO2-argon, I can't
quantify any of this.

Bruce
NJ
--- craig.schaefer at verizon.net wrote:

> Except that heavier than air gases will go to the
> floor and lighter than air gasses will rise to the
> ceiling.  Hotter gasses rise in cooler gasses.  They
> don't all expand to fill a space evenly.
> I don't have a problem thinking that gases like
> argon and co2 will remain mixed for all practical
> purposes.
> 
> CraigS
> 


       
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