Name that Gas

This lab aims to teach 1st year students about basic gas laws, and Archimedes theory... and what better way to do this than use balloons!

The mystery students must solve is simple: find out which gas is in each balloon.

Each coloured balloon carries one of 12 gases. Students must calculate the molar mass of the gas in their balloons to identify it.

To do this they need to capture and weigh the balloons,  estimate their volume, and then apply the correct theories.

To make the session slightly more chaotic, for pedagogical reasons of course, there a slightly too few balloons of each colour. Student groups therefore have to trade and interact with others to finish the task.

Solving this mystery is a rewarding and fun use of applying the key gas laws which underpin the study of thermodynamics.