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A balloon is a bag that is usually filled with gas, which can be helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen or air.
Throughout the 19th century, balloons were made out of animal bladders. Nowadays, balloons are made from a thin and stretchy material like rubber, latex, neoprene or plastic and can come in many different colors. Big balloons are made from nylon fabric.
Balloons are used for many purposes. Some use them for decorations and entertainment at parties and are sometimes made to look like animals. Others tend to use them for hiccup cures or even to sit on them, though it isn't recommended. Bigger balloons can be used in aircraft, though some balloon aircraft are filled with hot air, known as hot air balloons.
Balloons can also be filled with water, known as "water balloons", are a kind of toy, best known for its use of water balloon fights. The aim is to throw them at people to soak them with water.
