Helium is not a heavier gas than air or CO2....also, CO will kill quicker than both He and CO2, so that argument for 2 parts oxygen is null.Originally Posted by Clyde Frog
Haha. Science is my forte. Someone asked about the chemistry so ask and you shall receive
Just to address the "falling asleep" issue: As for "falling asleep" and dying, that's them going unconscious and their brain shutting down from lack of oxygen.Hard to do anything but lie there when major organs are failing. Especially the brain. Your body systems work together. Especially respiratory and central nervous. So, generally when the body senses that its going to suffocate, the brain begins to shut down section by section as the cells die off. Helium has the same effect. You don't get poisoned. They both make you feel REALLY dizzy and organisms can't handle the spinning and topsy turvy feelings so they lie down to avoid injury or a predator sensing that they are incapable of escaping attack at which point the body accepts defeat, goes into unconsciousness to try to preserve all oxygen for the brain (muscles use a lot of oxygen) and once the brain senses death, it begins to shut down the other systems with the limited time it has while the cells are dying.
As I think about it more and more, helium might even be quicker. If quicker=better or safer then I'd say yes - Helium is better/safer.
As for "why helium"? Well, two reasons - 1. Helium is more readily available. It's a heavier gas and as a result is much easier to obtain from air via distillation.
2. This is going on a stretch, but assuming the average person knows the gas properties of Helium vs CO2, they know that it takes less Helium to kill a person than it does CO2 because CO2 molecule is 2 parts Oxygen, afterall.
As for my 2 cents....I think the difference between the two would be insignificant as far euthanasia, so I wouldnt worry about buying the feeders euthanized with He.
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