The gas that is commonly used to demonstrate the fountain experiment is

Answer Details

The fountain experiment demonstrates the very high solubility of certain gases in water. A round-bottom flask is filled with the gas and inverted over a trough of water (often containing an indicator). When a small amount of water enters the flask and dissolves the gas, the pressure inside drops dramatically. Atmospheric pressure then forces water up into the flask in a spectacular fountain.

For this experiment to work, the gas must be extremely soluble in water so that it dissolves almost instantly on contact, creating a near-vacuum inside the flask.

Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is the classic gas used. It is one of the most soluble gases in water: about 450 volumes of HCl dissolve in one volume of water at room temperature, forming hydrochloric acid. Ammonia (NH₃) is also commonly used for the same experiment, but it is not among the given options.

Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) is only moderately soluble and is extremely toxic, making it unsuitable. Dinitrogen(I) oxide (N₂O, nitrous oxide) and nitrogen(II) oxide (NO, nitric oxide) are both poorly soluble in water and would not produce the dramatic pressure drop needed for the fountain effect.