Fun with Dry Ice!!!

Demonstration by:

Jon Wilson

The University of Mississippi

History of Carbon Dioxide

Who do we owe credit for Dry Ice?– A Chemist from Belgium named Jan Baptist

van Helmont (1580-1644) discovered Carbon Dioxide in the early 1600’s.

– He was also the first person to use the word “gases” when dealing with Carbon Dioxide and other common gases (example: Oxygen)

Jan Baptist van Helmont (1580-1644)

History of Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide in the past– It is thought that Carbon Dioxide dominated the

Earth’s atmosphere 4.5 billion (4,500,000,000) years ago.

– Living on Earth during that time would have been impossible because there was not enough Oxygen for us to breathe. The atmosphere was similar to the current atmosphere on Mars.

Earth’s Atmosphere 4.5 billion years ago?

Mars Venus

Properties of Dry Ice Temperature

– -109 degrees Fahrenheit (-80 degrees Celsius)– That is 150 degrees colder than it is outside right now (it is

around 41 degrees F in Oxford)

Density– Heavier density than the air around us.

Special Property– Goes directly from a solid to a gas (called sublimation)

under normal temperatures. It does not leave a puddle of ice like regular ice.

Common Uses of Dry Ice (Solid - CO2)

By plants for photosynthesis (most important)

Freezing different things for transport Keeping different things frozen during

transport Adding carbonation to our soda Fire extinguishers

Carbon Dioxide vs. Water

CO2

– It has a greater density than Water.

– It goes directly from a solid to a gas under normal temperatures.

– Vital for photosynthesis in plants.

H20– It has a density less

than Carbon Dioxide.

– It goes from a solid to a liquid to a gas under normal temperatures.

– Everyone needs water to survive.

Playing It Safe with Dry Ice

What Do You Think?

Why does the Ice Cream man use Dry Ice instead of regular Ice?

What happened and Why

The ice cream man uses dry ice because when it melts there is not a puddle of water. Dry ice turns directly into a gas. This does not make a mess or make your ice cream soggy on summer days.

What Do You Think?

What will happen when an “air” filled balloon is placed into the aquarium with dry ice?– Will the balloon be crushed?– Will the balloon sink to the bottom?– Will the balloon float out of the aquarium

magically?

What happened and Why

Carbon Dioxide gas has a higher density than air. The carbon dioxide gas fills the aquarium from the bottom to the top as it turns from a solid into a gas. The air filled balloon floats on the Carbon Dioxide gas because it is less dense. Depending on the amount of Carbon Dioxide in the aquarium, the balloon will either float inside or be pushed out over the top.

What Do You Think?

What will happen when regular “air” filled soap bubbles are blown into the aquarium with the dry ice?– Will the bubbles freeze?– Will the bubbles change colors?– Will the bubbles float like the balloon in the

earlier experiment?

What happened and Why

Since the air filled soap bubbles have a density less than the carbon dioxide gas, they float on the Carbon Dioxide gas as well. Like the balloon in the first experiment, some of these bubbles might also be pushed over the top out of the aquarium.

What Do You Think?

What will happen when dry ice and water are placed into one of the small film cans?– Will the can crack open violently?– Will the can just sit there and look boring?– Will the can deform?

What happened and Why

When water is added to dry ice, it sublimates or changes from a solid to a gas much more quickly. If you seal them up inside the container, the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas builds up and pops the top off the can. It is important not to seal dry ice in an air tight container!!!

What Do You Think?

What will happen when 4 candles at different heights are lit in the aquarium with the dry ice?– Will they all be put out by the dry ice?– Will they keep burning until there is no more

candle left?– Will they make sparks and really big flames?

What happened and Why

Fire needs oxygen to burn much like humans need oxygen to breathe. Carbon dioxide smothers the oxygen, extinguishing the candle’s flame.

Carbon dioxide is used in fire extinguishers.

Deadly Carbon Dioxide

Lake Nyos, Cameroon

What happened and Why

This volcano in Cameroon, a country in Africa, has a lake sitting inside of it. Some slight activity occurred in 1984 and 1986 releasing a Carbon dioxide gas bubble from within the lake. Since the gas is heavier than air, it rolled down the sides of the volcano like fog into the surrounding village. Lots of people and animals died from suffocation.

Conclusions About Dry Ice

Dry Ice is fun Dry Ice is used any many ways to keep

things frozen and cold for transport Dry Ice is a substance that goes directly

from a solid to a gas under normal temperatures and pressure

Carbon Dioxide is important to our lives

Materials

Materials– aquarium (10 gallon)

– 50 lb block of dry ice

– thick rubber gloves

– tongs

– candles

– lighter

– latex gloves

– metal spoon

– soap bubbles

– plastic volcano

– lighter with long flame

– styrophone cups

– water and container

– cooler for dry ice

– Powerpoint slides

– Dry Ice write-ups

References Web References

– http://www.dryiceinfo.com/– http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/explore

chemistry.htm– http://oror.essortment.com/dryiceprojects_opl.htm– http://ousd.k12.ca.us/~codypren/4f.html– http://www.howstuffworks.com/question264.htm– http://www.rockitscience.com/dryice.html– http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/8785/exp1.html– http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/8785/exp2.html

Literature

Literature– Good Web Resources

• DryIceInfo.com

• Howstuffworks.com

– Good Fun Demo Book Title: Dry Ice Investigations ISBN: 0924886153 Price: $15.64 @ booksamillion For: Grades 6-8

Getting Dry Ice

Local Contact Information– Nex-Air of Batesville, MS

• Phone: (662) 563-8613• Oxford Delivery Driver: Mr. Tony Arnold• Call on Wednesday to reserve a block (usually only one

block can be reserved from the shipment)• Delivery comes every Thursday and blocks can be

picked up late Thursday or early Friday• Price per block = ~$16.00• Always very helpful people for teachers!

Images

Images to be added later!