You may be familiar with dry ice that is used to make the effect of fog during Halloween or to keep drinks ice cold in the summer season. Dry ice has many uses and is especially useful if your freezer breaks down. Dry ice is carbon dioxide in the solid state, which returns to its normal state as it melts: odorless, colorless carbon dioxide in the gaseous state. Dry ice can be used effectively for many purposes as long as you take safety precautions when using and storing it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Handle Dry Ice
Step 1. Get the dry ice as close to usage time as possible
This is important due to the fact that dry ice goes from solid to gaseous at a rate of 2.5 to 4.5 kilograms (5 to 10 pounds) per 24 hours in a normal insulated container. Buying it too far in advance will prevent you from having a chance to use it before it wears off.
Step 2. Handle dry ice carefully
You can use oven mitts, insulating gloves, or thick towels to handle dry ice; otherwise it will burn your hands. Dry ice is at a temperature of minus 79 ° C (minus 109 ° F). The burn caused by dry ice is similar to frostbite.
Step 3. Transport the dry ice in a well-ventilated vehicle
Dry ice is carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide is dangerous to your health in large or concentrated amounts. If too much dry ice gas accumulates in a small space, you can suffer from carbon dioxide poisoning. Keep vehicle windows open when transporting dry ice.
- You can put a sleeping bag or other similar insulating material around the insulated container that you plan to use to transport the dry ice.
- If you transport it inside your vehicle (with the exception of the trunk) for periods longer than 10 minutes, you must open the windows to ventilate any concentration of carbon dioxide.
Step 4. Store dry ice in a place with proper ventilation
It should not be stored in a small space where gas can accumulate and become dangerous. Keep dry ice in a place where air will flow. Styrofoam and newspaper are good insulators to preserve dry ice.
Be careful in low areas. Carbon dioxide gas is heavier than air and sits close to the ground. Proper ventilation is the best way to prevent the accumulation of CO2 in low spaces
Step 5. Prevent food from spoiling during a power outage
A failed freezer full of food or a freezer that has stopped working due to a power outage can be replaced with the cooling power of dry ice. However, you probably don't want to store your dry ice in a working conventional refrigerator. Dry ice is colder than the refrigerator's thermostat can handle.
Step 6. Place the dry ice on a suitable surface
Countertops are not ideal, as the surface can crack from the extreme cold of dry ice. If you use dry ice in a broken freezer or refrigerator, a small amount will suffice to chill. In this way, it will not cause harmful effects.
Wrap the dry ice in newspaper to prevent it from dissipating quickly in the air stream
Step 7. Get rid of the dry ice by letting it return to its gaseous state
Leave it at room temperature and do not throw it in the garbage, the sewer, the sink or the bathtub. Washing dry ice in the plumbing fixture can damage the plumbing. Also, make sure you don't let it evaporate somewhere where children or animals can touch it. Some places that can allow dry ice to evaporate include:
- the sink
- shower or bath
- outdoors (out of the reach of animals and children)
Method 2 of 3: Using Dry Ice to Make the Fog Effect
Step 1. Gather your supplies
Dry ice will create fog in normal temperatures, but for a stronger effect, you'll need to prepare. Dry ice can be purchased at most grocery stores and convenience stores. To get a thicker fog and really wow all viewers, you will need the following:
- dry ice
- fan
- Hot water
- a water container (4-8 gallon and made of sturdy plastic or metal of your choice)
Step 2. Prepare the container
Dry ice combined with hot tap water can create a thick, powerful and fluid mist. Cold water or water that has been cooled by the addition of dry ice will cause a thinner and thinner mist. Fill the water container with as much hot water as you can.
You don't need to heat the water to boiling point, but the hotter the water, the stronger the mist
Step 3. Prevent water damage
Dry ice's reaction to becoming carbon dioxide (called sublimation) can cause the water in the container to bubble up intensely and splash a little water. Place a tarp under the water container or place it where water escaping from the container will not cause harm.
The air that carries the mist also carries moisture and can make floors slippery. You must take appropriate measures to ensure that no one slips in these areas
Step 4. Measure the dimensions
Having the correct proportion of dry ice will enhance the effect of the fog. For a consistent 15 minutes of thick fog, add about 5-10 pounds of dry ice to about 4-8 gallons of hot water.
The best ratio for fogging is about half a gallon of hot water to 1 pound of dry ice
Step 5. Guide the direction of the mist
You can easily do it with a small fan. Dry ice has a tendency to seek the lowest point because it is heavier than air, so if you are on uneven ground or if the water container is low, a fan in a low environment can disperse it more widely.
Step 6. Change the water
As the dry ice melts, it will cause the water to fizz, which can negatively affect fog production. Keeping the water agitated and changing it frequently will enhance the effect of the mist.
Method 3 of 3: Using Dry Ice to Freeze Berries
Step 1. Get your quick freeze tools
Freezing berries and other delicate fruits can take up a lot of the freezer while freezing and can leave you with freeze-burned food. This quick and easy trick will have bushels of berries freezing in no time. You will need the following:
- dry ice
- hammer
- insulating gloves
- big bowl
- stainless steel spoon
Step 2. Rinse the berries carefully
Make sure to completely remove any dirt, bacteria, or contaminants from the product before freezing. After you're done, you should allow the fruit to dry for a short time on a towel.
Step 3. Crush the dry ice and transfer the berries
You can put the berries in the bowl once they have dried to prepare them for mixing with the dry ice. Take the dry ice (which should still be in the container) and use a hammer to break the ice into small pieces.
If you are concerned that, when the ice breaks, it will break or fly irregularly, to protect your eyes and your face it is recommended that you wear a mask and glasses
Step 4. Mix the fruit salad with the dry ice
You will need the insulating gloves to do this. Now that the ice is crushed into manageable pieces, you can remove the container from the dry ice with your gloves and mix the dry ice in the bowl. Gently stir the berries and ice with the stainless steel spoon until the ice is distributed throughout all the berries.
Step 5. Put the bowl in a safe place
You shouldn't put the bowl in a small, poorly ventilated container, as this will cause carbon dioxide to build up, which can damage the container. Frozen berries can be stored in a plastic bag. Also, in some cases, it can be stored for up to a year or more.
You should consider storing the berries, while frozen, in a large refrigerator (Styrofoam works well) or on a tap. Don't leave berries and dry ice out in the open. Children and small animals can be injured by playing with or trying to ingest dry ice
Advice
- Treat a dry ice burn in the same way as a fire burn.
- Proper ventilation is necessary for the safe use of dry ice.
- If you need to cut or crush the dry ice, it is safer to wear safety glasses and a face shield.
Warnings
- Symptoms of carbon dioxide poisoning include headache, nausea, breathing difficulties, and vomiting.
- Don't eat dry ice.
- Don't inhale dry ice.
- Supervise children around dry ice at all times.