7C had a little experiment with dry ice in the lab today.
This is solid carbon dioxide, at -78 degrees C
which will sublime into gaseous carbon dioxide
without going through the liquid phase
so when you put it in hot water
it sublimes really quickly.
Hence it gives off very cool carbon dioxide gas
but this is NOT the smoke you see
That is a cloud!
That's right we made clouds in the lab
The cold carbon dioxide reduces the temperature of the air above the water
which means it can't hold so much water vapour
so it condenses forming microscopic water droplets
OR clouds!
Look at the previous blog entry to see the dry ice Hero Engine.
