REFLECTOR: nitrogen in tires...

[Al Gietzen]

 [1] Nitrogen is denser than Oxygen: This means the larger molecules

escape less easily from tires resulting in a more gradual loss of

pressure over time. According to the Michelin Tire Manual, a tire that

is inflated with Nitrogen loses its pressure 3 times slower than if it

were inflated with air.

 

Clearly this discussion has already gone beyond its merits for our purposes;
but for scientific interest we should at least know that oxygen, atomic
number 8, is a larger atom than nitrogen, atomic number 7; and the density
of oxygen, O2, is 14% greater than nitrogen, N2; when at the same pressure.
Beyond that, the size of the atom - or molecule when two atoms are joined,
is irrelevant to the leak rate or loss of pressure in the tire.

 

I could go on . . . but, no; I'll spare you:-)

 

 Al

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