User:Ææqwerty/sandbox

nhbb = Air =

Not to be confused with oxygen, which is a common but incorrect term for air.

Air is the blend of gases that composes Earth‘s atmosphere. Its composition is as follows: 78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen in the from of O2, 1% argon and 0.04% other gases including carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane and various noble gases. It is often incorrectly referred to as oxygen  but is mostly nitrogen. It is often used as a working fluid due to it being easily available and not having any particularly problematic aspects except in some cases such as refrigeration. It has a sufficiently high concentration of oxygen for humans to be able breath and fire to spread but it may need fan forcing to increase temperature.

Safety
If breathed in as part of a SCUBA apparatus or similar then nitrogen narcosis may occur. Nitrogen narcosis is a reversible form intoxication which is similar to alcohol or nitrous oxide intoxication that is caused by inhaling nitrogen. Oxygen toxicity can occur when breathing air as it is caused by high partial pressure of oxygen. Mild symptoms include disorientation and vision changes but more severe symptoms include retinal detachment, cell membrane oxidation and alveoli collapse. As a compressed gas has similar hazards to an inert gas such as possible explosion upon heating or damage from its own speed but if breathed in pollutants such as carbon monoxide may reach a dangerous partial pressure. It is an oxidiser and is often blown onto fires to increase temperature but It does not have sufficient oxygen to prevent unburned gases. As a cryogenic liquid it becomes a more potent oxidiser (due to the liquid oxygen), intensifying fire as well as causing freeze burns. In extreme conditions such as UV bombardment, electrical arcs and high temperatures it may partially convert into NOX  compounds and ozone, both of which are toxic. It is mildly corrosive to steel and iron due to its oxygen content but this can be mitigated easily.