~ou'bleBalloons-Long Term Protection for Sensitive Materials In this laboratory we have been protecting hasic solutions from carbon dioxide with an inert, dry nitrogen atmosphere. Normally one could use an ascarite tuhe (sodium hydroxide on asbestos) and change it periodically. We have discovered an excellent way to protect a solution with an inert atmosphere with a very inexpensive apparatus: one balloon positioned inside a second balloon. One balloon is forced inside of a second balloon with a pencil and the inner halloan is inflated with nitrogen. These "double balloons" are attached to the solution through a glass tuhe which protects the solution with a positive nitrogen atmosphere. These "double balloons" will last for several weeks and when they do break the outer balloon will always break first and leave the inner balloon still inflated. When one notices the hreakage of the outer balloon, the dauhle balloons should he . rcnlneerl. I he beauty of this svsrern is thac if one isgune for a wekrnd, the uurer bnlluon ma! break bur not rh? innpr hnllom. \Ye h a w nor checked the duration of thesecvnd balloon bur wcdu know i r hasgone for srwral days wirhmr lmnking.
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Robert C. Duty Illinois State University Normal. IL 61761
Volume 61
Number 3
March 1964
261
