Difference between revisions of "Dry ice"
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| − | + | '''Dry ice''' is frozen [[carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>). It is useful for a variety of purposes, but is especially popular for temporary [[refrigeration]] to preserve food, organs, or other organic matter. It is also used in some scientific research.<br /> | |
| + | While water freezes at a temperature of 32° Fahrenheit (or 0° Celsius), carbon dioxide freezes at -109.3° Fahrenheit (or -78.5° Celsius)<ref>http://dryiceinfo.com</ref>, which means that while harder to create, dry ice can also chill or freeze things much better than regular ice. Another significant advantage of dry ice is that it undergoes sublimation as it melts--it converts directly from a solid to a gas. This means that it does not wet the item(s) it is cooling, but simply "disappears" as a gas into the environment. It is for this reason that is has gotten the name, "dry ice," because it remains dry as it melts. | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 00:55, August 30, 2016
Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide (CO2). It is useful for a variety of purposes, but is especially popular for temporary refrigeration to preserve food, organs, or other organic matter. It is also used in some scientific research.
While water freezes at a temperature of 32° Fahrenheit (or 0° Celsius), carbon dioxide freezes at -109.3° Fahrenheit (or -78.5° Celsius)[1], which means that while harder to create, dry ice can also chill or freeze things much better than regular ice. Another significant advantage of dry ice is that it undergoes sublimation as it melts--it converts directly from a solid to a gas. This means that it does not wet the item(s) it is cooling, but simply "disappears" as a gas into the environment. It is for this reason that is has gotten the name, "dry ice," because it remains dry as it melts.