Out of the air. Pt. 1

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Description

Air, an important industrial raw material, is first filtered to remove any solid matter. Then its constituent gases-nitrogen, oxygen, and other trace gases-can be separated by compressing the air, cooling it, and then allowing it to expand, which cools it further. Since each gas liquefies at a different temperature, the gases can easily be separated. As the air expands, it is used to drive turbines, which generate electricity; the cold air is also used to freeze carbon dioxide and water vapor. The liquid nitrogen and oxygen, stored and transported in well-insulated tanks, have many industrial uses, from steel-making to packaging potato chips.