Section: 6 | Viscosity of Gases |

How to Cite this Reference

VISCOSITY OF GASES

Marcia L. Huber

The following table gives the viscosity of some common gases as a function of temperature. Unless otherwise noted, the viscosity values refer to a pressure of 100 kPa (1 bar) or to the saturation vapor pressure if that is less than 100 kPa. The notation “Yes” in the column “Low-pressure limiting value” indicates that the low-pressure limiting value is given. The difference between the viscosity at 100 kPa and the limiting value at zero pressure is generally less than 2%. Uncertainties for the viscosities of gases in this table are usually less than 3%; uncertainty information on specific fluids can be found in the references. Viscosity is given in units of μPa s; note that 1 μPa s = 10^–5 poise. Substances are listed in the modified Hill order. Column definitions for the table are as follows.

Column heading	Definition
Mol. form.	Molecular formula of gas; order is in modified Hill order
Name	Chemical name of gas
Low-pressure limiting value	“Yes” indicates viscosity value η is low-pressure limiting value
η(100 K), η(200 K), etc.	Viscosity η (μPa s) at the temperature (in K) indicated within parentheses
Ref.	References

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Viscosity of Gases as a Function of Temperature

Mol. form.	Name	Low-pressure limiting value	η(100 K)	η(200 K)	η(300 K)	η(400 K)	η(500 K)	η(600 K)	Ref.
Continued on next page...
	Air		7.1	13.3	18.5	23.1	27.1	30.8	1
Ar	Argon	Yes	8.1	15.9	22.7	28.6	33.9	38.8	2, 3, 4
BF₃	Boron trifluoride			12.3	17.1	21.7	26.1	30.2	5
ClH	Hydrogen chloride				14.6	19.7	24.3		5
F₆S	Sulfur hexafluoride				15.3	19.7	23.8	27.6	6
H₂	Normal hydrogen	Yes	4.1	6.8	8.9	10.9	12.8	14.5	3*,7
D₂	Deuterium	Yes	5.9	9.6	12.6	15.4	17.9	20.3	8
H₂O	Water	Yes			9.8	13.4	17.3	21.4	9
D₂O	Deuterium oxide	Yes			10.1	13.8	17.9	22.1	10
H₂S	Hydrogen sulfide	Yes		8.1	12.2	16.4	20.3	24.0	11
H₃N	Ammonia				10.2	13.9	17.7	21.4	12
He	Helium	Yes	9.6	15.1	19.9	24.3	28.3	32.2	13
Kr	Krypton	Yes	8.9	17.3	25.4	32.8	39.4	45.5	14,15*
NO	Nitric oxide			13.8	19.2	23.8	28.0	31.9	5
N₂	Nitrogen	Yes	6.7	12.8	17.8	22.1	25.9	29.4	16,17*
N₂O	Nitrous oxide	Yes		10	14.9	19.6	23.9	27.8	18
Ne	Neon	Yes	14.4	24.1	31.9	38.6	44.8	50.6	19
O₂	Oxygen		7.7	14.7	20.7	25.8	30.5	34.7	1
O₂S	Sulfur dioxide			8.6	12.9	17.5	21.7		5

^*Reference contains more accurate data covering a restricted temperature range.

References

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