As part of their science work, Year 5 have been researching different types of gases.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide is the most toxic substance you'll come into contact with in your daily life. In your home, at work, garage, car, caravan & boat.
Early symptoms of CO poisoning, such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue, are often mistaken for the flu because the deadly gas goes undetected in a home. Prolonged exposure can lead to brain damage and even death.
More than 50 home deaths result every year from CO poisoning caused by faulty heating appliances.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It can be given off by appliances that burn fossil fuels such as gas, coal, wood or oil, if they’re not working properly, if the flue is blocked in any way, or if the room is not properly ventilated.
Most cases of carbon monoxide poisoning are due to inadequate ventilation or poor maintenance of appliances, blocked or leaky flues and chimneys. Chimneys can become blocked for various reasons. It could be as a result of birds nesting on the chimney, or possible degradation of the flue. A blocked flue can lead to carbon monoxide leaking into your home.
Some people mistakenly think that it is only gas-fuelled heating systems which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. In fact, it can happen with any fossil fuel system if the system, which included both the appliance and the flue, is faulty or the room is not properly ventilated. Also, some people associate carbon monoxide poisoning with rented accommodation. In fact, more people are killed in owner-occupied rather than rented properties.
By Connor, Year 5
Sulpher Dioxide
Sulphur is one of those elements you can never forget. It is bright yellow in colour and it has a really bad smell (like rotten eggs). Beyond the obvious physical traits of sulfur, man has been using this element for thousands of years. Why? Well you might just find it sitting on the ground. Sulfur is often found near volcanoes and hot springs. When man has found pure elements that are readily available, they put them to use.
Sulphur is even mentioned in the bible. Sulfur is an element that is easy to find on the ground. Naturally occurring sulphur is a yellowish color and often found as a crystal. At normal temperatures, sulfur is non-reactive. There is a lot of sulfur just sitting underground in Texas and Louisiana here it is called brimstone.
There is a lot of sulphur near volcanoes. Volcanoes are actually holes in the surface of the Earth. All sorts of chemicals come out of these holes and sulfur is one of them. If you ever get close enough to a volcano you'll be able to smell the sulphur.
Fireworks
Fireworks are a good place to find sulphur. Fireworks and firecrackers are filled with gunpowder. One of the main ingredients of gunpowder is sulphur.
Matches
Whenever you see someone light a match, they're using sulfur. Just like fireworks, there is sulfur in matches that sparks and starts the flames.
Volcanoes
There is a lot of sulfur near volcanoes. Volcanoes are actually holes in the surface of the Earth. All sorts of chemicals come out of these holes and sulfur is one of them. If you ever get close enough to a volcano you'll be able to smell the sulfur. It smells like rotten eggs.
Fertilizer
Whenever you fertilize your plants there is a good chance that sulfur is in the fertilizer. Sulfur is an element that helps make the fertilizer healthy for plants.
By Lee, Year 5
Carbon Monoxide
Dangers:
You can't smell it, see it or taste it, but it could be with you right now!
Carbon Monoxide is the most toxic substance you'll come into contact with in your daily life. In your home, at work, garage, car, caravan & boat
There are hundreds of fatalities every year from Carbon Monoxide, and just a small amount of Carbon Monoxide in your living area can cause major problems over time.
What to do in an emergency:
1. Move the affected person to fresh air. Administer oxygen if available.
2. Contact medical help. If the person is not breathing, perform artificial respiration until medical help arrives.
3. Ventilate the area.
4. Investigate the source of carbon monoxide and make repairs
By Laura, Year 5
Oxygen
You're breathing it right now and your body is taking in its needed oxygen molecules.
You need oxygen to survive, as do all other living organisms. It’s a good thing that oxygen makes over twenty percent of the Earth's . We are the only planet in the solar system with enough oxygen available to let us survive.
Did you know that if you breathe too much oxygen you could die? What about this? If you have a room filled with oxygen and hydrogen and someone lit a match... It would explode! That's because oxygen is very reactive.
By Connor, Year 5
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