Colorless Gases List, Examples

There are so many colorless gases in chemistry. Oxygen, nitrogen, methane are several examples. Colorless gases cannot be seen from our eyes. As an example, almost of all gases in the atmosphere are colorless. Therefore, we cannot observe a color in the atmosphere. Colorless gases can be categorized to different sections. We discuss them in detail in this tutorial


List of colorless gases

  • Carbon dioxide
  • Oxygen
  • Nitrogen
  • All noble gases (Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon)
  • Hydrogen
  • Ammonia
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Sulfur trioxide
  • Nitric oxide
  • Nitrous oxide
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Ozone
  • Methane
  • Ethane
  • Propane
  • Butane
  • Acetylene
  • Hydrogen sulfide


Importance of colorless and colorful gases

We cannot see existing of a colorless gas around us from our eyes. Also, in chemistry, when we conduct experiments, gases are released. These gases may be colorful or colorless. If colorless gas is emitted, you have to follow some scientific methods to prove there was a gas.

  • If nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas is emitted, you may see its brown color.
  • If nitric oxide (NO) gas is emitted, you cannot see a color.


What are the colorless gases which are soluble in water?

  • Carbon dioxide
  • Ammonia
  • Sulfur dioxide

These gases dissolve in water and reacts with water to form compounds. Some of these solutions are basic and some are basic.



Colorless inorganic gases

  • Carbon dioxide
  • Oxygen
  • Nitrogen
  • All noble gases (Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon)
  • Hydrogen
  • Ammonia
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Sulfur trioxide
  • Nitric oxide
  • Nitrous oxide
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Ozone
  • Hydrogen sulfide


Colorless organic gases

  • Methane
  • Ethane
  • Propane
  • Butane
  • Acetylene


Acidic colorless gases

There are colorless acidic gases which gives acidic solution when they dissolve in water.

  • Carbon dioxide
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Sulfur trioxide
  • Hydrogen sulfide


Colorless gases which gives basic solution

There are colorless basic gases which gives basic solution when they dissolve in water.

  • Ammonia


Toxic colorless gases list

Some gases like hydrogen sulfide or carbon monoxide are very toxic and fatal if it is inhaled.

  • Ammonia
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Sulfur trioxide
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Ozone
  • Methane
  • Hydrogen sulfide




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