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Xhaiden
New Contributor

Does hydrogen gas react with solid gold?

I'm wondering if I was to make a gold nano-coated ballon and filled it with hydrogen would the gold contain it or breakdown?

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3 Replies
Previous Community Member
Not applicable

Re: Does hydrogen gas react with solid gold?

Gold is one of the most inert metals and it does not react with hydrogen gas.  That said, I am not sure what the permeability of hydrogen through gold is.  I suspect it would be pretty low.

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WayneCook
New Contributor III

Re: Does hydrogen gas react with solid gold?

The polymer used for the balloon will likely determine the rate of hydrogen loss.  Latex balloons do not retain hydrogen very well.  Mylar balloons are a lot less permeable...

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Previous Community Member
Not applicable

Re: Does hydrogen gas react with solid gold?

Why do you think the polymer would determine the rate of hydrogen loss?  I would think it would be a lowest permeability coating which would determine that.

Just like the it is the aluminum coating that gives mylar it's much reduced permeability to gases, I would think that if latex rubber could be successfully coated with gold (or another metal), it too would have low permeability to hydrogen, helium and other gases.

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