How to inflate balloons with helium. How to make a helium balloon at home so that it flies? How to fill a balloon to make it fly

Balloons are an integral part of any special event. Multi-colored balls floating in the air give magical moments of childhood and carefreeness. Such decorations attract children and adults. Nowadays, there are the most unrealistic shapes and shades of balls. They can be with drawings, original inscriptions, decorative elements, thanks to which their appearance becomes even more attractive.

Balloons can be used to decorate an apartment or room for a celebration. This is a universal and popular type of decor, because it fits perfectly into any interior and is suitable for most holidays. Light balloons filled with helium have become very popular. To fill with this gas you need special equipment, but not everyone has it. Therefore, many people wonder how with his own hand make helium. This will require some effort, but then the composition of balloons will delight you and your invited guests for a long time. Let's look at some ways to fill balloons with air.

1) How to inflate balloons with helium - vinegar and soda

This is the easiest option for getting flying balls. Thanks to an elementary chemical reaction, it is possible without special effort inflate the balloons. To do this you will need vinegar, water, a spoon, and a 2-liter flask. To make the ball light, you need to fill the bottle halfway with vinegar. Next, add a spoonful of soda and attach the rubber band of the ball to the flask. Then carefully turn it over. When soda gets into vinegar, a violent chemical process occurs, which is similar to a volcanic eruption. After this, the ball will gradually fill with air, but will not take off, because as a result of the reaction, carbon dioxide is released, and it is known to be heavier than air. But despite this, the ball turns out attractive and air.

2) How to inflate balloons with helium - hydrogen cocktail

The next way to obtain flying balls is to use alkali with aluminum.

• The flask is half filled with water.
• The foil is cut into pieces and placed in a container.
• Next, add 80 grams of salt and attach a ball to the neck of the flask.
• Next you need to shake it thoroughly, as a result of this reaction the ball will be filled with air.
• After dissolving all the components in the solution, the ball must be tied.
• After the reaction has begun, it is necessary to take action, otherwise nothing may come of it. One reaction allows you to inflate several balloons.
• Remember that when the components react, they generate heat; for this reason, the flask must be placed in cool water to avoid getting burned.

How to inflate balloons with helium - helium balloon

You can also inflate a balloon with helium using a regular balloon. To do this, place the balloon on the balloon tube, making sure it is tight, then carefully turn the tap and watch how the balloon inflates, then tie it off. This method is simple, the only thing you need is to find a cylinder.

4) How to inflate balloons with helium - zinc and hydrochloric acid

If you want to inflate balloons using these substances, then you can do this if the balloons are not accessible to children. This is because the reaction releases oxygen, which is harmful to health. To prepare, you need to place 2 components in a bottle and put a ball on its neck. the appearance will be as beautiful and light as that of helium ones. Flying balloons will create a festive atmosphere and give you a cheerful mood. In this way, you can properly organize the party and make it brighter and more eventful.

Balloons inflated with helium are often in demand during the holidays. Usually, they are bought ready-made (inflated) and brought to the holiday. Or, they invite specialists who come and inflate balloons on site. However, this is not always convenient, and, most importantly, it is not very cheap. In order to significantly save money and not depend on strangers, you can inflate balloons with helium yourself. It is quite possible.

In order to inflate balloons with helium, you will need a helium tank, balloons and tape, which is needed to tie the balloons.

Helium cylinders

Almost all companies that offer balloons wholesale and small wholesale (and they are in every big city), they offer helium cylinders for rent, i.e. for rent. The practice is this: the buyer pays for the gas stored in the cylinder, makes a deposit for the cost of the gas cylinder (it is equal to the cost of the cylinder itself) and takes the cylinder with him. Then, after use, the buyer returns the cylinder and takes back the deposit, from which the rental cost is deducted. Renting for a couple of days is quite inexpensive.

Large cylinders (40 l) and small cylinders (10 l) have become widespread. If we talk about normal balloons, 12" in size, which are inflated to a diameter of 28 - 30 cm, then from a large balloon you can inflate about 400 pieces, and from a small one - about 100 pieces. For a home party or wedding, 100 pieces of large helium balloons There are more than enough balloons. Therefore, citizens rent just such cylinders. Moreover, small cylinders are light (13 - 16 kg) and can be transported without problems in any passenger car.

More information about cylinders, their markings, rules for safe handling, and methods for moving and transporting them can be found in this article.

Balloons

Where they rent balloons you can buy latex balloons, in packs of 100, 50 and 25 pieces. You can choose either simply multi-colored balls (assorted by color) or balls with a thematic design.

If there is a choice, then for outdoor use it is recommended to buy balloons manufactured by Sempertex (Colombia), and for indoor use it is recommended to use Latex Occidental (Mexico). These balls have a round shape and are pleasant to work with.

It is not recommended to buy retail balloons individually, especially those balloons that are sold in non-specialized places. As a rule, products are sold there made in China, which has an unpredictable quality.

The main thing to remember is that from one 10 liter cylinder you can inflate about a hundred large latex balloons.

Braid

For tying inflated balloons They use narrow decorative polypropylene ribbon (5 mm width), which is sold in spools of 250 m (metalized) and 500 m (regular). For adult parties, the standard end of the ribbon is 1.5 m long. For children's parties, use more long ends of the braid, 2 - 2.5 m long (depending on the height of the ceilings). In any case, if you use a 10 liter balloon, one spool of tape will be enough for all the balls. The braid is cut with ordinary scissors as the balloons are inflated.

Inflating balloons with helium

The process of inflating and tying is shown in detail in the video instructions:

Let's note a few important points:

• The position of the balloon should be such that the person is on the opposite side of the balloon being inflated. The direction of the gas stream coming out of the cylinder should not be directed towards people or pets. The fact is that when the balloon bursts, most of the pieces of latex fly towards the inflation of the gar.
• A latex ball consists of a neck and a balloon. The neck is used to tie the balloon, and the balloon is used to inflate with gas. As soon as the balloon begins to be fully inflated and the gas supply continues, the neck of the ball begins to inflate. A balloon whose neck is already inflated is considered overinflated. In professional terms, when the ball begins to “grow a leg” (inflating the neck of the ball becomes noticeable), then the ball must stop inflating the ball. An overinflated balloon (a balloon with a leg) is not only unsightly, but it also has very thin walls, which is why it bursts.
• The lifespan of balloons inflated with helium (we are talking about balloons of known quality: Colombian, Mexican) is 8 - 10 hours. After this, they begin to noticeably decrease in size, and then fall to the floor. This should be taken into account when planning a holiday. There are ways to increase the lifespan of helium balloons, but more on that next time.

All the best and have a great holidays!

Of course, not everyone can afford helium balloons, since they are more expensive than simple balloons. And you can’t buy them everywhere. For example, rural residents would have to go to the city to pick them up. You've probably wondered if it's possible to make helium balloons in . As it turned out, it is not only possible, but also without much effort and expense. So, what will you need for this?

DIY helium balloons: what you need

You probably have vinegar and soda in your kitchen, and even more so, you have a bottle and a glass. Among kitchen utensils you can find a funnel, and in the refrigerator on one of the shelves there will most likely be a lemon; if not, buy everything that is missing. In addition, you will need electrical tape. It is advisable that it is not too wide or too narrow. One of the main ingredients is water. To get the balloons themselves, you will still have to leave the house and visit the store.

So, to make helium balloons, which will soon become a source Have a good mood your loved ones, you need to have the following components:
- baking soda– 5 tablespoons;
- juice of half a lemon;
- vinegar – 3 tablespoons;
- Balloons;
- electrical tape;
- 1 glass of water;
- 1 small bottle;
- 1 funnel.

Making a helium balloon: sequence of actions

In order for everything to work out, follow all the steps and take your time. What to do:

Pour a glass of water into a small bottle using a funnel. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda. In any convenient container (bowl, deep plate, small saucepan), mix lemon juice with 3 tablespoons of vinegar.

Carefully pour this mixture into the bottled water through a funnel. Then in itself balloon you should add baking soda. This can also be done using a funnel, after washing and wiping it. The first ball will use 3 tablespoons of soda, in the future you can add a little less. Quickly pull the ball onto the neck of the bottle, so that the soda does not, and then secure it tightly with electrical tape.

Ready! Now, when soda interacts with vinegar, gas is released, and as a result, the helium balloon is inflated. The last point is to tie the ball and remove it from the neck of the bottle.

This method is great for difficult to inflate balloons, and also as a simple chemical experience for young experimenters.

Multi-colored balls floating in the air are very popular. The only downside to this type of entertainment is that balloons only fly when filled with helium. However, a balloon with this gas costs a little more. Luckily, there are several ways to make it yourself and avoid the big expense. So, how to make a helium balloon at home?

How to make a helium balloon yourself: basic aspects

Helium is a non-toxic and non-flammable gas that is lighter than air. For this reason, it is used to fill balloons. Helium is available in a variety of sizes and packaging. The smallest commercial container is a single-use vial of helium gas. With this amount of gas you can inflate 8-10 round helium balloons with a diameter of about 25 cm, and this pleasure will cost from 1500 to 1700 rubles.

However, as already said, we can make flying balls ourselves and with minimal costs. True, to inflate the balloon, we will not use helium, since its synthesis requires very low temperatures, which can only be achieved in laboratory conditions. In our case, the balls will fly as a result of chemical reactions using available and inexpensive substances, so it makes sense to say that the balls will be like helium ones.

About which chemical reactions we're talking about? In order for the ball to fly, we need a gas that is lighter than air. Since you can’t synthesize helium in your pantry, there remains one more accessible gas - hydrogen. Moreover, it is much lighter not only than air, but also helium, so balls with hydrogen inside will soar upward much faster. By the way, this gas used to lift airships and balloons into the air.

Hydrogen can be produced under conditions home cooking with the help of such available materials, How:

• table vinegar;
• baking soda;
• aluminum foil or wire;
• salt;
• copper sulfate;
• drinking water.

Making a flying ball: master classes

Well, as they say, less words, more action. First, let's look at a simpler and less expensive method of inflating a balloon with hydrogen.

Sodium acid and bicarbonate

Necessary materials:

• 150 g sodium bicarbonate or soda;
• table vinegar - 500 ml;
• plastic bottle;
• balloon.

Process description:

Copper sulfate and salt

Necessary materials:

• medical IV;
• a bottle with a capacity of one liter (preferably made of glass, since heat will be released during the reaction and the plastic may melt);
• copper sulfate - 100 g;
• table salt - 100-150 g;
• aluminum, preferably in the form of wire up to 2 m long;
• tap water - 0.7 l;
• balloon.

Process description:

This way the balloon will be inflated without helium to fly, and the whole process will take you about 20 minutes.

What determines the flight duration of helium balloons?

The flight time of gas-filled balloons depends on the type of material used. In ordinary balloons helium quickly escapes from the pores of the shell material. That is why special latex balloons of a traditional round shape or any other are often used.

Round helium balloons under normal conditions environment fly up to 10 hours. Balloons made of special foil retain gas much longer - up to several days. In addition, they are reusable and can always be refilled with gas or air.

Balloons are an integral attribute of special events. Therefore, in this material we tell you how to inflate a balloon without helium. To make it fly, you need to use one of the methods suggested below at home.

Ways to inflate a balloon without helium to make it fly

Since you can’t inflate a balloon with helium without a balloon, we recommend choosing an alternative. It’s quite easy to do this at home by looking at our life hacks.

No. 1. Alkali

To carry out manipulations using the hydrogen method, you need to take:

• heated water;
• flask;
• foil;
• teaspoon;
• alkali (for example, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)).

1. Pour water into the flask to fill the container ½ full. Place foil cut into small pieces inside.

2. Measure out 3 tablespoons of baking soda and add. Now, without hesitation, pull the ball onto the neck of the flask.

3. Shake the container to start the reaction of the foil with sodium hydroxide. Hold the ball by the elastic band; it should not fall off.

4. When the pieces of foil dissolve and the balloon is inflated to your needs, remove it and make a knot.

Now you know how to make a gel ball at home.

No. 2. Battery with electrodes

Prepare the following:

• plastic basin (volume 15 l.);
• plastic bottles (2 pieces, 1 liter each);
• purified water;
• battery (12 Watt);
• electrolyte (sulfuric acid);
• electrode (not strictly copper, but graphite).

Before inflating a balloon without helium, be sure to protect your eyes, breathing passages, and skin. To make it fly, it's better to follow step-by-step instructions at home.

1. Pour water into a basin so that the liquid fills about ½ of the container. Now take a plastic bottle 1, fill it with electrolyte, moving 3 cm from the neck.

2. Pull the ball over the top. Now make very tight holes at the bottom of the bottle by inserting an electrode into them. The device must fit tightly enough so that the composition does not leak out.

3. Do the same with bottle 2. Now place these containers in the basin, place a battery nearby with the electrodes connected to it (stick to +,- polarity).

4. Plug in the battery and observe the process. A ball stretched over a bottle with “-” polarity will be filled with hydrogen and rise, and the second will be filled with oxygen, but will not fly.

No. 3. Copper sulfate with salt

Before inflating a balloon without helium, you need to prepare in advance:

• cool purified water;
• glass bottle;
• foil;
• table salt;
• copper sulfate.

To make it fly, follow these simple instructions at home. Protect your hands with gloves and wear goggles for protection.

1. From a piece of foil 20*20 cm, you need to cut strips of about 5 mm. Place the finished ribbons in a glass bottle.

2. Pour 85 g into the same container. salt and 75 gr. vitriol. Close the neck immediately. Due to the supply of oxygen, a reaction will begin.

3. You can’t do it without an assistant, so act quickly. Pour 0.45 liters into the bottle. purified water. Immediately place the balloon on the neck.

4. Hold it, otherwise it will fly off. The reaction will begin instantly. You will be able to inflate several balloons, so don't waste gas.