The air we breathe contains nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen is essentially liquid air, according to the UCSB Physics Department. Liquid nitrogen is unique because it has a very low boiling point (-320 degrees Fahrenheit). Even though the material bubbles like you would see hot water do, it's dangerously cold.
This cold is used in many different industries including technology (it keeps computers cool) and medicine (to remove warts or preserve bodies). While liquid nitrogen is cool to watch, it's also dangerous. If you opt to use it, please exercise caution.
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1. Liquid nitrogen and Pepsi
Pepsi may hold up in an ice chest, but it's no match for liquid nitrogen. Dipping to temperatures in the - 350-degree range, the chemical turned the can (and the liquid inside) into a solid mass of ice in just seconds. The cold temperature of the nitrogen instantly freezes objects like fruit, soda, and veggies, because they contain water (which has a freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit).
Pepsi may hold up in an ice chest, but it's no match for liquid nitrogen. Dipping to temperatures in the - 350-degree range, the chemical turned the can (and the liquid inside) into a solid mass of ice in just seconds. The cold temperature of the nitrogen instantly freezes objects like fruit, soda, and veggies, because they contain water (which has a freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Liquid nitrogen bottle rocket
Liquid nitrogen turns to gas very quickly when it comes into contact with warm air (its natural state is much colder than the air we breathe). The quick change of state causes an increase of pressure which shoots the rocket off fast and high.
Liquid nitrogen turns to gas very quickly when it comes into contact with warm air (its natural state is much colder than the air we breathe). The quick change of state causes an increase of pressure which shoots the rocket off fast and high.
3. Liquid nitrogen cloud
Because liquid nitrogen is so cold, adding a lot of hot water to a batch of liquid nitrogen creates an explosion. The explosion isn't dangerous, per se, because the liquid just turns into a gas very quickly. (And since most of the air we already breathe is made up of nitrogen, the resulting cloud is safe as well.)
Because liquid nitrogen is so cold, adding a lot of hot water to a batch of liquid nitrogen creates an explosion. The explosion isn't dangerous, per se, because the liquid just turns into a gas very quickly. (And since most of the air we already breathe is made up of nitrogen, the resulting cloud is safe as well.)
4. Make ice cream with liquid nitrogen (h/t Physikanten & Co.)
Homemade ice cream is the best. But, churning it in plastic bags (if you don't have an ice cream machine) can be a bit tiring. Enter liquid nitrogen. The freezing temperature instantly freezes all of your ingredients for a ready-t0-eat treat.
Homemade ice cream is the best. But, churning it in plastic bags (if you don't have an ice cream machine) can be a bit tiring. Enter liquid nitrogen. The freezing temperature instantly freezes all of your ingredients for a ready-t0-eat treat.
5. Frozen bubbles
The bubbles in this experiment freeze before they hit the liquid nitrogen because the air around it is so cold. Once the nitrogen replaces all of the oxygen in the bubble, it pops, but you'll still have a pretty cool piece of the frozen bubble to examine.
The bubbles in this experiment freeze before they hit the liquid nitrogen because the air around it is so cold. Once the nitrogen replaces all of the oxygen in the bubble, it pops, but you'll still have a pretty cool piece of the frozen bubble to examine.
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