coal gas

gas (gas) any elastic aeriform fluid in which the molecules are separated from one another and so have free paths.gas´eous

---

alveolar gas  the gas in the alveoli of the lungs, where gaseous exchange with the capillary blood takes place.

blood gases  the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood; see under analysis.

coal gas  a gas, poisonous because it contains carbon monoxide, produced by destructive distillation of coal; much used for domestic cooking.

laughing gas  nitrous oxide.

tear gas  one which produces severe lacrimation by irritating the conjunctivae.

---

coal gas

a cause of poisoning where coal gas is still used because of its carbon monoxide content. Other heating gases are less poisonous and produce carbon monoxide only if they are burned in an inadequate oxygen supply. See also carbon monoxide.