Have question about what I am exhaling.

[vp685]

Ok, I understand the 50-50 pv-vg combo, but there really isn't any "water" in the tank for it to be "water vapor", correct?

Secondly, exactly what am I exhaling?

I wanted to search for these two questions as I'm sure others have posed the same questions, but wasn't quite sure what words to search on.

Thanks so much!!

 

[Kaisen]

Ok, I understand the 50-50 pv-vg combo, but there really isn't any "water" in the tank for it to be "water vapor", correct?

Secondly, exactly what am I exhaling?

First, there *might* be distilled water in your e-liquid if you're specifying a high ratio of VG. It's added to thin an otherwise thick, viscous solution. But there's typically not much water added, even at 100%VG

Second, what you're seeing come out is pretty much the same as went in, less a very small percentage of what was absorbed or condensed. So you're exhaling the same PG, VG, nicotine, and flavoring that makes up your e-liquid.

You're right, it's not just "water vapor"

 

[vp685]

So, it isn't "smoke"? But looks like smoke!!

If it quacks like a duck.....!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

So, it isn't "smoke"? But looks like smoke!!

If it quacks like a duck.....!

Well this duck does not quack.. What you are seeing is actually what the first poster said combined with the moisture in your mouth, nose and throat. Take a piece of dry ice and poor water on it. What do you get? That is water vapor not smoke. No dead leaves to burn, no fire, zilch. That is why it is very important to increase your liquid intake. Dehydration is no joke.

 

[AttyPops]

1) It is NOT smoke. Smoke is a product of combustion, contains gases like CO and CO2 and ash and tars and such.
2) Water is attracted to the vapor and is picked up from the air and your lungs (which is why your breath is foggy in the Winter)
3) The exact analysis may be available by study....I don't have a link though.

Why do you ask? If you're wondering about the "mostly water vapor" thing...it may be quite a bit of water vapor (well, condensate). However, it has e-juice stuff too. Plus CO2 from you. I think there's a study but you'll have to search if someone doesn't provide a link.

 

[Katya]

Just for you, Atty. And for the OP, of course.

Yup, there's plenty of water in that vapor, but also other things... No smoke though!

Lab Reports: ecigarettes

 

[AttyPops]

Thanks Kat. While looking at that I saw the "home page" article too:
CASAA: New study confirms that chemicals in electronic cigarettes pose minimal health risk

 

[Kaisen]

So, it isn't "smoke"? But looks like smoke!!

If it quacks like a duck.....!

H2O can be ice (solid), water (liquid), or steam (gas), right?

What you see coming out of a vaporizer (electronic cigarette, nebulizer, humidifier, etc) is simply a gaseous atomized form of a liquid.
This is the duck you think quacks.

The heating elements in a personal vaporizer (aka electronic cigarette) heat the PG/VG/nic/flavor solution to about 230°F at the coil itself. That's enough to excite the molecules into separating and mixing with the air as you inhale it past, creating a "vapor".

So it's not changing form, chemically, into anything else....just changing its physical state. If steam looks like smoke to you, that's the idea. But it's steam made from a solution other than water.

Once inside your mouth and throat, most of it condenses as it touches relatively cooler surfaces. Some is drawn with that air mixture into your upper airways and some into your lungs where more of the vapor may condense. Then again on its way out when you exhale. If vapor is still visible on exhale it's your normal exhaled "breath" (as others stated: carbon dioxide, water vapor, etc) and what's left of the vapor that was atomized from your solution.

Smoke is the byproduct of combustion. Amd no combustion takes place in an electronic cigarette.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

H2O can be ice (solid), water (liquid), or steam (gas), right?

What you see coming out of a vaporizer (electronic cigarette, nebulizer, humidifier, etc) is simply a gaseous atomized form of a liquid.
This is the duck you think quacks.

The heating elements in a personal vaporizer (aka electronic cigarette) heat the PG/VG/nic/flavor solution to about 230°F at the coil itself. That's enough to excite the molecules into separating and mixing with the air as you inhale it past, creating a "vapor".

So it's not changing form, chemically, into anything else....just changing its physical state. If steam looks like smoke to you, that's the idea. But it's steam made from a solution other than water.

Once inside your mouth and throat, most of it condenses as it touches relatively cooler surfaces. Some is drawn with that air mixture into your upper airways and some into your lungs where more of the vapor may condense. Then again on its way out when you exhale. If vapor is still visible on exhale it's your normal exhaled "breath" (as others stated: carbon dioxide, water vapor, etc) and what's left of the vapor that was atomized from your solution.

Smoke is the byproduct of combustion. Amd no combustion takes place in an electronic cigarette.

Thank you for breaking it all down so that it is very easy to follow. After all just saying something like PG is a humectant may be confusing to some. I know I had to look it up when first starting to vape.