Fact of the Day: 26/10/2021
Why do balloons deflate over time, even when they’re sealed tight?
The answer lies in the behavior of gas molecules and the phenomenon known as effusion. Balloons are not air-tight, and helium atoms are very small. As gas particles, helium atoms continuously shoot in all directions, bouncing off the interior of the balloon. Over time, the particles make their way through tiny pores in the balloon and the balloon seal, which causes a reduction in the overall number of gas particles in the balloon. This is why balloons deflate over time—the ‘air’ inside escapes!
Further Exploration: If you’d like to learn more about effusion, check out this article: https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-chemistry-flexbook-2.0/section/14.15/primary/lesson/diffusion-and-effusion-and-grahams-law-chem/
Fact Author: Ace
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