 Trimix scuba cylinder label | |
| Uses | Gas used for human respiration |
|---|---|
| Related items | Air, Heliox, Nitrox, Oxygen, Trimix, Gas blending for scuba diving, Diving cylinder, Scuba set, Rebreather |
A breathing gas is a mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration. Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas, but other mixtures of gases, or pure oxygen, are also used in breathing equipment and enclosed habitats. Oxygen is the essential component for any breathing gas. Breathing gases for hyperbaric use have been developed to improve on the performance of ordinary air by reducing the risk of decompression sickness, reducing the duration of decompression, reducing nitrogen narcosis or allowing safer deep diving.