Answer :
Final answer:
You shouldn't use combustible gases like propane or butane in trace gas if it is not necessary to alarm a detector. Nitrogen is the best choice because it is inert, while helium is also favored in many chemical processes for its non-reactive properties.
Explanation:
Gases for Gas Chromatography and Detectors:
In the context of gas chromatography and detection, the choice of gas used is important. Propane and butane can potentially alarm a detector due to their combustible nature. Nitrogen would be the least likely to alarm a detector unnecessarily, as it is inert under most conditions.
In contrast, helium is favoured in many chemical analysis scenarios due to its inertness and lack of flammability, although it is not the main cause for alarm in detectors used in gas chromatography.
Gases like hydrogen and helium are commonly used as carrier gases due to specific properties like non-flammability in the case of helium, which also makes it a safer option for scenarios like scuba diving to avoid the risk of narcosis and for applications requiring an inert atmosphere.
