Making ice at home is no more a difficult task, thanks to invention of the refrigerator. All that you need to do is fill in the ice cube tray with water, place it in the freezer and wait for a few minutes. The ice cubes are ready at your disposal! However, making dry ice is an entirely different procedure. Also known as card ice or cardice, dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide, which is obtained by compressing and freezing the gas. Though ice, normally, is available in a frozen form, general ice and dry ice differs largely. While the surface temperature of dry ice is -109.3 °F, the temperature of general ice varies. Also, handling dry ice is not as easy and safe as it is handling normal ice. Due to the extreme cold temperature, one has to wear gloves, while handling dry ice and for the same reason, dry ice cannot be consumed. Dry ice is used to keep things cold and create a misty dry ice fog at special events. Making dry ice at home is simple, though it requires utmost care. Read on to find the instructions for making dry ice at home.
Instructions For Making Dry Ice At Home
Things Required
- Protective Gloves
- Protective Eyewear
- Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher
- Cloth Bag
- Duct Tape
Instructions
- Place the cloth bag in a clean and flat workspace.
- Secure the opening of the cloth bag to the nozzle of the carbon dioxide extinguisher using the duct tape.
- Place the bottom of the bag on the flat workspace firmly.
- Press the extinguisher to release carbon dioxide into the bag for about 10 to 15 seconds.
- Remove the duct tape from the bag and nozzle of the extinguisher. By doing so, the carbon dioxide will expand and solidify, thereby creating dry ice. You will find a mound of snow-like substance at the bottom of the bag which is the dry ice.
- Open the bag and flip it upside down. Carefully slide the dry ice into a heavy duty container. Do not cover the container; else the evaporating gas will create air pressure that can break the container.
- Dry ice can be placed under bowls of punch to keep it chilled and create a fascinating effect to the decoration.
Tips
- Wear your protective eyewear and gloves during the entire dry ice process, since touching dry ice with bare skin can damage it.
- Carry out the entire dry ice making process in a safe, covered place.
- Do not store dry ice in the freezer, since the extreme cold temperature of dry ice can cause the thermostat to turn off the freezer.
- After using dry ice, make sure that you dispose it off.