Regarding O2 on a MAT 252: Our laboratory has been analyzing pure O2 as analyte with a MAT 252 for more than 3 years and we have incurred no difficulties of the type you describe. I know at least two other labs that can say the same. The only effect attributable to O2 that I have encountered has to do with cleaning the source. I once took the source apart for cleaning (it actually did not need it, but that is another story). After reassembling and baking we found that there was some adsorption of O2 that persisted for several days. It was cured by baking with He flowing for 48 hours. I suspect that the adsorption following cleaning would not have been such a problem with a less reactive gas. -Ed Young Earth Sciences University of Oxford