Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a gas that consists of one part sulfur and six parts fluorine. It is colorless, odorless, non-toxic, and non-flammable. It is soluble in water and some other liquids. It is generally transported as a liquified compressed gas.
Sulfur hexafluoride can affect the sound of a persons voice if it is inhaled in small quantities. When SF6 is inhaled, the pitch of a persons voice decreases dramatically because the speed of sound in SF6 is considerably less than it is in air. This is the opposite of what is heard when a person inhales helium.
Although this is a novel amusement, it can be somewhat dangerous as the SF6 displaces the oxygen needed for breathing. It is best to inhale only very small quantities at a time, and to allow several minutes of breathing fresh air for every one breath of SF6. Much more dangerous is attempting to inhale SF6 from the pressurised cylinders used for storage. The high flow rate can fatally overpressure the lungs and rupture the alveoli in a fraction of a second, without time to react. It is much safer to fill a small balloon with the gas, and then inhale from there.
External link
High GWP Gases and Climate Change (http://www.epa.gov/highgwp/scientific.html) from the U.S. EPA website.
The Romans used sulphur or fumes from its combustion as an insecticide and to purify a sick room and cleanse its air of evil (Cunningham 1935).
Sulphur is found in meteorites, volcanoes, hot springs, and as galena, gypsum, Epsom salts, and barite.
Although sulphur is in the same group in the periodic table as oxygen, there are more differences in the chemical characteristics of these elements than there are similarities.
Gaseous inorganic fluoride compounds (e.g., hydrogen fluoride and sulphurhexafluoride) are primarily released into the atmosphere whereas particulate compounds (e.g., sodium fluoride and calcium fluoride) are released into aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Inorganic fluoride compounds (except sulphurhexafluoride) are not expected to remain in the troposphere very long or migrate to the stratosphere.
Even though sulphurhexafluoride is long-lived enough to migrate into the stratosphere, its contribution to stratospheric ozone depletion is considered minimal, because fluorine is much less efficient and less available than chlorine in the catalytic destruction of ozone in the stratosphere (Chu, 1991).
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