How Dry Ice Works and the Safety Behind It
Dry ice is an incredibly useful tool that can be used for everything from cleaning to making very unique cocktails for your holiday parties.
Dry ice is an incredibly useful tool that can be used for everything from cleaning to making very unique cocktails for your holiday parties. Before you purchase dry ice and use it for anything around the house, it’s important to understand how it works and how to safely handle it.
How Does Dry Ice Work?
Dry ice is the frozen form of carbon dioxide. Instead of turning from a gas, into a liquid, and then into a solid, carbon dioxide goes straight to a solid form. As a result, when it melts it also turns right into gas. Dry ice is extremely cold and has a surface temperature of -109.3 degrees. Dry ice is so popular because it’s easy to freeze and relatively easy to handle, as long as you are using the right techniques.
How Can You Safely Handle Dry Ice?
To handle dry ice safely, you should always:
- Store dry ice in an insulated container that is not completely airtight. An airtight container is at risk of exploding as a result of the sublimation.
- Never store dry ice is a refrigerator or freezer.
- Use dry ice in a well-ventilated area, as carbon dioxide in the air can cause headaches, shortness of breath, or CO2 poisoning.
- Handle dry ice with thick, heavy gloves that can sufficiently protect your hands from the cold.
What Happens if You Don’t Handle Dry Ice Properly?
If you make the mistake of not properly handling dry ice, there can be some serious consequences. Touching dry ice without protection actually feels similar to touching a hot pan or pot without using an oven mitt to protect yourself. If you pull away immediately, you will not be injured besides a little sting. If you linger for too long, you will sustain a serious burn. Dry ice freezes the skin cells it comes into contact with, so it should never be touched with bare hands or ingested. When consuming any food made with dry ice, make sure that it is fully sublimated.
Dry Ice from Dry Ice Corp
Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our dry ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge amount of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of dry ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200 or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter.
