1. terrwyn

    terrwyn New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2011
    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Ohio, United States

    Breathing methods of a character in fantasy

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by terrwyn, Jun 25, 2012.

    I want to create a character or a race that cannot breathe oxygen or carbon dioxide. What other gases could this person or race breathe? The gas doesn't have to be in the air like oxygen is. I'd like to have these characters wear full helmets or gas masks with a tube that leads to a gas tank they carry on their backs.
     
  2. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,830
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    You could google atmospheric composition, if you are talking about gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Nitrogen and argon are the two other major components of our air. Nitrogen is relatively unreactive, b ut could conceivably have a biological function for an alien species. Argon is an inert gas, and would therefore be biologically pretty useless as well as being unreactive.

    I have no idea what kind of biology your aliens have. A silicon-based life form would probably be unable to tolerate oxygen, although carbon dioxide would be less likely to be a problem. Your alien would need more than a breathing mask, though. Oxygen would probably be a problem on exposed "skin" as well.
     
  3. SuttonMichael254

    SuttonMichael254 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2012
    Messages:
    132
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    North Dakota
    Google H2S
    Its deadly to us humans. I think that would put some sort of crazy twist on things. Its also a natural gas, its not man made.
    We have to deal with that gas all the time out here in the oil field. You get a good couple of whiffs of that stuff and you a done deal
     
  4. Leonardo Pisano

    Leonardo Pisano Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    Messages:
    453
    Likes Received:
    13
    Why not a fluid instead of a gas? The container is pressured anyway to a fluid, to reduce volume. The biology might be fish-like then. HTH
     
  5. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,830
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    Yes, hydrogen sulfide is on the same order of toxicity as hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen sulfide is the odor of rotten eggs, but it can quickly deaden the olfactory nerves so you stop smelling it.

    Methane and ammonia are common gases on planets that do not have plants (and therefore little or no free oxygen). Chlorine or fluorine are highly corrosive gases that are toxic to terrestrial life forms. Sulfur dioxide is another gar humans cannot tolerate, but some bacteria can metabolize.

    There are any number of gases that could exist in an alien ecology, but would not be found naturally on Earth.
     
  6. terrwyn

    terrwyn New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2011
    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Ohio, United States
    I'd like to have a gas that could either be natural on an earth-like planet (because this race would reside beside other races that breathe oxygen), or as Leonardo said, a liquid instead of a gas. I was thinking this race could have surgically inserted tubes into the sides of their necks or faces, with tiny, horizontal slits where a human's mouth would be as a way to speak words.
     
  7. Psychotrshman

    Psychotrshman Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    What about a race that breathes Liquid Mercury? It's naturally occurring but can be deadly to other races and it could be carried in portable "breathing tanks".
     
  8. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,830
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    Not really. It could, in a reducing atmosphere, but mercury is sufficiently reactive it is only found in nature as compounds on Earth, or any atmosphere of oxidizing gases.

    The problem is, if you simply pick a compound at random, the chemistry might make no sense whatsoever. You would at least need toi know what kinds of chemicals could coexist with it, in what temperature ranges, and whether it could reasonably expected to take place in a metabolic reaction (reactive enough, but not so reactive that the products are too inert).

    The chemistry I'm talking about is not necessarily at college/professional level, but certainly at advanced high school level. You can expect a decent proportion of your readers to know that much chemistry, so you will look foolish if your chemistry isn't at least somewhat plausible.

    On the other hand, I may be expecting too much. The TV series Alien Nation had aliens who reacted to seawater like being dumped in a vat of acid, and yet they could tolerate substantial contact with human blood.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice