How is a contaminated oxygen system typically purged?

Purging a contaminated oxygen system with nitrogen is a critical safety measure used to remove any harmful contaminants or impurities from the system. Nitrogen is an inert gas, meaning it does not react with other substances, making it ideal for this purpose. When nitrogen is introduced into the contaminated system, it effectively flushes out the contaminants without risking reactions that could lead to further complications.

On the other hand, using water could introduce additional contaminants or could lead to corrosion within the system, which would worsen the contamination issue. Employing oxygen for purging doesn't resolve contamination; instead, it might amplify the risk of combustion if any flammable contaminants are present. Argon, like nitrogen, is an inert gas, but it is not typically used for purging oxygen systems due to operational practices and considerations regarding cost and availability. Therefore, using nitrogen is the standard practice for safely purging a contaminated oxygen system.