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Dry ice is made by pressurizing and refrigerating carbon dioxide gas, causing it to turn into a liquid and freeze. To make it at home, a CO2 tank and safety gear are needed. Dry ice is used to keep things cold and can be dangerous if not handled properly. It should be stored in an insulated container and never in a freezer. Accidental contact with dry ice can cause burns, which should be treated with antibiotic cream if necessary.
To make dry ice, the manufacturer pressurizes the carbon dioxide gas and refrigerates it to form liquid carbon dioxide. The liquid is allowed to expand in an atmospheric chamber. When carbon dioxide gas turns into a liquid, the temperature drops.
This drop in temperature causes some of the gas to freeze. As a result, carbon dioxide is created which looks like snow and steam. The carbon dioxide that looks like snow is hydraulically pressed into dry ice blocks and pellets.
To make dry ice at home, a person must purchase a CO2 or carbon dioxide tank. Such tanks are used for aquariums, diving and paintball guns. Buy the smallest tank for home use. After purchasing the tank, collect the rest of the materials. Heavy gloves, goggles, an ice pack, and a thick jar are other items needed to make dry ice.
Put on your safety goggles and gloves before attempting to make dry ice. Use the ice pack to cover the tank nozzle. Maintain a firm grip on the bag, making sure the bag fits tightly to the nozzle.
Then, turn the tank valve to release the carbon dioxide. Hold the valve open for about 20-20 seconds. Then, close the valve before removing the bag from the valve. After you take the bag out, put the dry ice in the jar. Don’t put a lid on the jar, as the carbon dioxide can cause it to shatter.
Dry ice is used to keep materials colder for a longer period of time than those stored with traditional or wet ice. This is because dry ice has a temperature of -109 degrees Fahrenheit (-78.5 degrees Celsius). Instead of melting, dry ice turns into carbon dioxide, thus eliminating the need to remove any residual liquids.
People use dry ice for a variety of needs, including keeping ice cream cool on road trips and packing freshly caught fish so it stays cold on the ride home. It is also used on airlines to keep perishable foods cold. Blood banks may also use dry ice to ship blood to hospitals. Dry ice is even used to create fog at concerts and other theatrical events.
When handling dry ice, it is important that the user wear thick gloves to protect the skin. If the user touches the dry ice without the protection of gloves, the skin can be seriously damaged by the freezing temperature of the ice. Users should never try to taste or swallow dry ice as the material can damage the internal body as well. As a person works with dry ice, they should ensure that the room is properly ventilated as carbon dioxide is toxic and concentrates in enclosed, low-lying areas.
Dry ice should be stored in an insulated box or container. If the container has thick insulation, it will prevent the dry ice from breaking down or sublimating too quickly. It should never be stored in a completely airtight container because dry ice can cause the container to expand or even explode.
Never store dry ice even in the freezer. The extremely cold temperatures of the material will cause the thermostat to turn off the freezer. As a result, the dry ice won’t last, as it will be used to store frozen items inside the freezer.
Sometimes a user can accidentally touch dry ice and suffer burns. When this occurs, you should see a doctor if your skin begins to blister or peel. If the burn is simply red, it will eventually heal like any other minor burn. An antibiotic cream should be applied to the burn to ward off infection.
