Scientific question - sort of...

[jmvallee]

Everyone says when you exhale an e-cig, you are exhaling plain water vapor.

When you exhale during cold weather outdoors, you can see your breath, also water vapor.

Why can we see the e-cig vapor at room temperature?

 

[jeffakamax]

What???
You cannot see the vapor?
You need a new unit!

 

[Antebellum]

Hi, JMV,

I've never really accepted the theory that we exhale is just water. It makes sense that if we inhale PG (or VG), that's what's going to be exhaled, too.

It probably will pick up some moisture on the trip, and it will have some amount of flavoring and nicotine in it, too.

As for why we can see it at room temperature, that's because it's a mist - droplets suspended in the air rather than water dissolved in the air. Condensation is why you can see your breath in cold weather, and that IS condensation of moisture (water) from our body.

 

[Proverb]

Hi, JMV,

I've never really accepted the theory that we exhale is just water. It makes sense that if we inhale PG (or VG), that's what's going to be exhaled, too.

It probably will pick up some moisture on the trip, and it will have some amount of flavoring and nicotine in it, too.

As for why we can see it at room temperature, that's because it's a mist - droplets suspended in the air rather than water dissolved in the air. Condensation is why you can see your breath in cold weather, and that IS condensation of moisture (water) from our body.

I too don't believe it's just water that we're exhaling, but the part that's had me positively curious these past couple of days is just how much nicotine is in the vapor we're exhaling. I could have sworn I read somewhere that we actually absorb a very small portion of the nicotine from the vapor; does that mean the relatively larger portion is what's still in the vapor? And if so, how much?

 

[MaxUT]

There's probably quite a bit of residual nicotine in the exhaled vapor.

I'm hoping it'll kill some of the mosquitos hereabouts...

 

[SLDS181]

Everyone says when you exhale an e-cig, you are exhaling plain water vapor.

Because its vapor, not water vapor. PG/VG vapor.

 

[kinabaloo]

Hi, JMV,

I've never really accepted the theory that we exhale is just water. It makes sense that if we inhale PG (or VG), that's what's going to be exhaled, too.

It probably will pick up some moisture on the trip, and it will have some amount of flavoring and nicotine in it, too.

As for why we can see it at room temperature, that's because it's a mist - droplets suspended in the air rather than water dissolved in the air. Condensation is why you can see your breath in cold weather, and that IS condensation of moisture (water) from our body.

Apart from the word 'dissolved', spot on. At first the vaporised PG/VG condenses into droplets big enough to see as a mist. these then disperse into super-small particles that cannot be seen.

Most e-juices have little water; there will be some water in the mist droplets from our body, and this helps with the condensation of PG/VG to a visible mist.

 

[Kent C]

Everyone says when you exhale an e-cig, you are exhaling plain water vapor.

I don't think 'everyone' says that. In fact, I've never seen it said that way. I've seen it said it's 'like water vapor'.. in that it quicky evaporates, but not that it IS plain water vapor. Are there particular posts that you could link on that? I'd didn't know that was a widespread theory.

 

[jmvallee]

I don't think 'everyone' says that. In fact, I've never seen it said that way. I've seen it said it's 'like water vapor'.. in that it quicky evaporates, but not that it IS plain water vapor. Are there particular posts that you could link on that? I'd didn't know that was a widespread theory.

I think you are right, I was mistaken about "plain water vapor"
The explanation that PG/VG mist is really what is exhaled (& evaporates quickly like water vapor) makes sense.
I just want to make sure I am explaining it correctly when someone asks me a question about it.

I am at a dancesport (ballroom dancing) competition this week & lots of dancers are also smokers. I'm sure I'll be asked a lot about my e-cigs.
Just want to be sure I am giving out true info and not misleading info in any way.

Would it be correct to compare the PG/VG mist we exhale to say a smoke/fog machine that uses PG? It also dissapates quickly. I want to use an analogy that folks will quickly identify with.

 

[SLDS181]

Would it be correct to compare the PG/VG mist we exhale to say a smoke/fog machine that uses PG? It also dissapates quickly. I want to use an analogy that folks will quickly identify with.

absolutely. Because its the same type of mix in a fog machine, quite literally - the ESTA recommend PG/VG.

 

[Scaralouche]

I don't think 'everyone' says that. In fact, I've never seen it said that way. I've seen it said it's 'like water vapor'.. in that it quicky evaporates, but not that it IS plain water vapor. Are there particular posts that you could link on that? I'd didn't know that was a widespread theory.

the smoke assassin radio spot does say that. bleh.

 

[Randyrtx]

Found a bit of a "scientific" explanation... I would need a chemist to interpret it, of course.

See here: Chemistry connections: the chemical ... - Google Books

 

[Kent C]

I think you are right, I was mistaken about "plain water vapor"
The explanation that PG/VG mist is really what is exhaled (& evaporates quickly like water vapor) makes sense.
I just want to make sure I am explaining it correctly when someone asks me a question about it.

I am at a dancesport (ballroom dancing) competition this week & lots of dancers are also smokers. I'm sure I'll be asked a lot about my e-cigs.
Just want to be sure I am giving out true info and not misleading info in any way.

Would it be correct to compare the PG/VG mist we exhale to say a smoke/fog machine that uses PG? It also dissapates quickly. I want to use an analogy that folks will quickly identify with.

Thanks. I understand you're concern. That last would be a good analogy, because while there may be traces of nic - it doesn't go very far from the original vaper. You might lay off the VG when you go out because that can linger.

 

[Kent C]

the smoke assassin radio spot does say that. bleh.

Really... sigh... didn't know that. I've been skipping those threads So, thanks!

 

[jmvallee]

Thanks. I understand you're concern. That last would be a good analogy, because while there may be traces of nic - it doesn't go very far from the original vaper. You might lay off the VG when you go out because that can linger.

Your comment about VG explains why I saw lingering vapor in a shaft of sunlight today and was surprised.

My DIY mix is 25% VG.

 

[Kent C]

Your comment about VG explains why I saw lingering vapor in a shaft of sunlight today and was surprised.

My DIY mix is 25% VG.

Yeah... I never really noticed it until Ecopure. And I have other VG and while it does produce more vapor I haven't seen anything like Ecopure for pure vapor production. My DIY is also @25% 3:1 or 4:1

 

[End_User-X]

My question is, how much nicotine is in the vapor you exhale? I know it depends on the strength of juice you're using, but specifically, you know the coating of nicotine or tar that coats everything in a room that you'd normally smoke analogs in? I wonder if the nicotine in the exhaled vapor is enough to cause that as well. And is it nicotine that makes everything brown and sticky in an environment, or is it tar?

 

[Kent C]

My question is, how much nicotine is in the vapor you exhale? I know it depends on the strength of juice you're using, but specifically, you know the coating of nicotine or tar that coats everything in a room that you'd normally smoke analogs in? I wonder if the nicotine in the exhaled vapor is enough to cause that as well. And is it nicotine that makes everything brown and sticky in an environment, or is it tar?

Tar. Scroll down to the picture of the tissue test:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...gh-4-6-please-do-not-post-here-thank-you.html

 

[End_User-X]

An amazingly informative and thorough tutorial. Hats off and thanks, Don.

 

[End_User-X]

And to Kent for directing me to the link!