Dry Ice
Properties
Dry ice is a translucent white solid that is also odourless, non-toxic, non-flammable and slightly acidic substance (Department of Biology, 2013). Dry ice is the solid phase of carbon dioxide gas with the chemical formula of CO₂. It consists of two oxygen atoms bonding with one carbon atom. Dry ice has a low melting point of -79°C and it is also denser than air therefore when it sublimates to CO₂, it will replace O₂ in the environment and sink to low areas. Dry ice is a result of deposition in carbon dioxide, this process is the phase transition from vapor directly to solid compressed under very high pressure until it liquefies (Kurtus, 2005). After the pressure is released, some of the pressurized gas will release in vapour form. The rest of the substance would expand and convert into the solid state which is later pressed into snow, chunks, blocks, ice packs and pallets for manufacturing purposes. These have a temperature of -78.5°C (Department …show more content…
Another important safety hazard is not to store dry ice in tight containers, excess pressure could build up causing the container to explode. Moreover, it is extremely dangerous to leave dry ice to sublimate in an unventilated room where CO₂ gas could build up at low areas in the room leading to suffocation from the replacement of air with CO₂. Furthermore, avoid inhalation, this could cause headaches, vomiting, with low concentrations and coma and death with higher concentrations (Dowbico Supplies Limited, 1994).
Environmental Effects
There are not any environmental effects to dry ice, it is completely safe and clean to use, moreover, it is made from reclaimed CO₂ therefore does not produce or add CO₂ effecting the atmosphere.
Properties
Dry ice is a translucent white solid that is also odourless, non-toxic, non-flammable and slightly acidic substance (Department of Biology, 2013). Dry ice is the solid phase of carbon dioxide gas with the chemical formula of CO₂. It consists of two oxygen atoms bonding with one carbon atom. Dry ice has a low melting point of -79°C and it is also denser than air therefore when it sublimates to CO₂, it will replace O₂ in the environment and sink to low areas. Dry ice is a result of deposition in carbon dioxide, this process is the phase transition from vapor directly to solid compressed under very high pressure until it liquefies (Kurtus, 2005). After the pressure is released, some of the pressurized gas will release in vapour form. The rest of the substance would expand and convert into the solid state which is later pressed into snow, chunks, blocks, ice packs and pallets for manufacturing purposes. These have a temperature of -78.5°C (Department …show more content…
Another important safety hazard is not to store dry ice in tight containers, excess pressure could build up causing the container to explode. Moreover, it is extremely dangerous to leave dry ice to sublimate in an unventilated room where CO₂ gas could build up at low areas in the room leading to suffocation from the replacement of air with CO₂. Furthermore, avoid inhalation, this could cause headaches, vomiting, with low concentrations and coma and death with higher concentrations (Dowbico Supplies Limited, 1994).
Environmental Effects
There are not any environmental effects to dry ice, it is completely safe and clean to use, moreover, it is made from reclaimed CO₂ therefore does not produce or add CO₂ effecting the atmosphere.