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Did the Hindenburg use hydrogen?
The airship was designed to be filled with helium gas but because of U.S. export restriction on helium, it was filled with hydrogen. Hydrogen is extremely flammable, and the official cause of the fire was due to a “discharge of atmospheric electricity” near a gas leak on the ship’s surface, according to History.com.
Why was the Hindenburg filled with hydrogen instead of helium?
U.S. law prevented the Hindenburg from using helium instead of hydrogen, which is flammable. After the crash of the hydrogen-filled R101, in which most of the crew died in the subsequent fire rather than the impact itself, Hindenburg designer Hugo Eckener sought to use helium, a non-flammable lifting gas.
Where was the hydrogen stored in the Hindenburg?
One involved a set of inner hydrogen gas cells to be installed at center of 14 of the ship’s 16 helium cells. The flammable hydrogen would be protected inside the larger cell containing inert helium, and when it was necessary to valve lifting gas, hydrogen, rather than helium, could be released.
What chemical was in the Hindenburg?
hydrogen
The Hindenburg was a huge ship—larger than four Goodyear blimps combined, longer than three Boeing 747s! Its steel frame was covered by a canvas-like material. Within the frame were 16 large bladders that contained the “lighter-than-air” gas called hydrogen.
Why do you think hydrogen so flammable?
Hydrogen gas (H2) is composed of two hydrogen atoms stuck together, each containing just one proton and one electron. This simple chemical structure is what makes hydrogen gas flammable and relatively easy to ignite. This is also why hydrogen gas is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and light.
Where was the hydrogen in the Hindenburg?
Is hydrogen still used in blimps?
The use of hydrogen as a lifting gas for passenger airships was completely abandoned by the late 1930s. Burning wreckage of U.S. Army hydrogen airship Roma. Norfolk, VA, February 21, 1922.