| A balloon is nothing but a flexible bag made | | | | All balloons can be easily filled with air, |
| from materials like rubber, polychloroprene, | | | | by blowing air into it. Now air pumps are |
| latex and nylon fabric, which is filled with | | | | used to inflate balloons. When balloons are |
| gases like hydrogen, helium, nitrous oxide or | | | | filled up with helium gas, the balloon float, |
| air. Balloons are generally used for various | | | | i.e. they try to rise up as the helium's |
| decoration purposes for celebrations and | | | | weight is very light. When helium is filled |
| parties. But some balloons are used for other | | | | up inside the latex balloons, the gas remains |
| purposes such as military, defense, medical | | | | inside only for some time and eventually the |
| treatment, meteorology and transportation. He | | | | helium gas moves out slowly through the walls |
| word 'balloon' was derived from the French | | | | of the latex balloon as the helium atoms are |
| word 'ballon' which means large ball. In | | | | smaller than the pores of the latex walls so |
| Latin 'ballone' means ball and from the | | | | they easily pass through them! This process |
| Middle English both 'bal' and 'beall' means | | | | is called diffusion. |
| ball. | | | | |
| | | | Later in the year 1970, more costly balloons |
| The first balloon was invented by a priest | | | | were manufactured / invented which are |
| Bartolomeu de Gusmao and it was exhibited | | | | long-lasting and they are called as foil |
| during an exhibition on 8th August, 1709 in | | | | balloons. These foil balloons are thin, less |
| Lisbon. Michael Faraday invented the rubber | | | | permeable, unstretchable and made from |
| balloon in 1824 which was filled with | | | | metalized plastic balloons. Foil balloons are |
| hydrogen gas and was used in experimentation. | | | | very attractive and has shiny surface, often |
| J.G Ingram invented the first latex balloons | | | | printed with messages and designs, which are |
| in 1847 in London, England. The mass | | | | used for various occasions, celebrations and |
| production of latex balloons was manufactured | | | | parties. An interesting feature of foil |
| around 1930s. Today the party balloons are | | | | balloons are they are light weight, hence |
| made up of natural latex from the trees which | | | | increases the buoyancy and they are able to |
| yield rubber. These balloons were filled up | | | | retain the helium gas for many weeks! |
| with ordinary air and helium gas, and even | | | | Balloons are so much fun, and we could never |
| sometimes with water for fun and other | | | | think of any celebrations or parties without |
| suitable gases. | | | | these cute balloons. |
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