Dry ice
Dry Ice
Dry ice (/draɪ aɪs/), also known as cardice (British chemists) or card ice (US chemists), is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It is used primarily as a cooling agent.
Etymology
The term "dry ice" originates from the fact that it does not melt into a liquid form like traditional ice, but instead sublimates directly into a gas. The term "cardice" is a registered trademark, originally coined by the British company Air Liquide UK, and is derived from "carbon dioxide ice".
Properties
Dry ice is colorless, non-flammable, with a sour zesty odor, and can cause rapid suffocation when concentrations are high enough. It is extremely cold and sublimates at −78.5 °C (−109.3 °F), which can cause severe frostbite on contact with skin.
Uses
Dry ice is often used to package items that need to remain cold or frozen, such as ice cream or biological samples. It is also used in cloud chambers, in the theater for dramatic effects, and in cleaning where it is known as dry ice blasting.
Safety
Because of its extremely cold temperature, dry ice can cause frostbite or burns upon contact with skin. It should always be handled with protective gloves or tongs. In addition, as it sublimates into carbon dioxide gas, it can displace oxygen and cause suffocation in enclosed spaces.
Related Terms
- Sublimation (phase transition): The process by which dry ice transforms from a solid to a gas.
- Carbon Dioxide: The gas form of dry ice.
- Dry Ice Blasting: A cleaning process that uses dry ice.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dry ice
- Wikipedia's article - Dry ice
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