Dry ice has fascinated many a child (and adult) for years. The chemical composition of the solid gas is fun to watch. Experiments using dry ice are generally safe (as long as you take the proper precautions), so these are fun to do or watch for every age.
Check out these cool (literally) experiments featuring dry ice and try your hand at one or two.
1. Bubble experiment with Jimmy Fallon
In this experiment, dry ice provides an example of sublimation (a state in which a solution goes from gas to solid, without ever being a liquid). The bubbles created here never actually float because the carbon dioxide inside the bubble is heavier than air.
In this experiment, dry ice provides an example of sublimation (a state in which a solution goes from gas to solid, without ever being a liquid). The bubbles created here never actually float because the carbon dioxide inside the bubble is heavier than air.
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2. Dry ice and soap
Most people know that when you add dry ice to warm water, you get a smokey effect (the water heats up the frozen carbon dioxide turning it into a gas). When you add bubbles to the solution, you get a fun (but messy) towering inferno of soap.
Most people know that when you add dry ice to warm water, you get a smokey effect (the water heats up the frozen carbon dioxide turning it into a gas). When you add bubbles to the solution, you get a fun (but messy) towering inferno of soap.
3. Frozen bubbles (h/t ThoughtCo)
Have you ever wanted to hold a bubble in your hand and look at it? When you blow bubbles into a dry-iced filled container, the bubbles float above the carbon dioxide, and eventually, the gas replaces the air in the bubble causing the bubble to fall into the dry ice. This causes the bubble to freeze so you can pick it up.
Have you ever wanted to hold a bubble in your hand and look at it? When you blow bubbles into a dry-iced filled container, the bubbles float above the carbon dioxide, and eventually, the gas replaces the air in the bubble causing the bubble to fall into the dry ice. This causes the bubble to freeze so you can pick it up.
4. The impossible to relight candle trick (h/t Wonder How To)
This is a fun experiment (or trick) that shows what happens when carbon dioxide replaces oxygen (this is also why people can die from CO2 poisoning). The carbon dioxide eliminates oxygen from the container, and as fire needs oxygen to keep burning, it won't work when the invisible gas is still in the candle holder.
This is a fun experiment (or trick) that shows what happens when carbon dioxide replaces oxygen (this is also why people can die from CO2 poisoning). The carbon dioxide eliminates oxygen from the container, and as fire needs oxygen to keep burning, it won't work when the invisible gas is still in the candle holder.
5. Dry ice popsicle
You can create a popsicle in as little as ten minutes with some fruit juice and dry ice. The ice is so cold that it instantly freezes the liquid that touches the surface. It takes about 10 minutes to freeze all the way through though! (Note: Make sure to dip your popsicle into some water before eating so you don't hurt your tongue)
You can create a popsicle in as little as ten minutes with some fruit juice and dry ice. The ice is so cold that it instantly freezes the liquid that touches the surface. It takes about 10 minutes to freeze all the way through though! (Note: Make sure to dip your popsicle into some water before eating so you don't hurt your tongue)
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