Liquid Nitrogen

Summary

Freeze items and explore gas laws with liquid nitrogen

Hazards

Liquid nitrogen is extremely cold. Wear gloves and use tongs.

Chemicals and Solutions

Large dewar of Liquid nitrogen

Materials

• Wide mouth dewar
• gloves
• tongs or forceps
• flowers
• balloon
• rubber tubing
• hammer

Procedure

The following items are available:

• Fresh flowers: they will crumble easily after being dunked in liquid nitrogen. (Nature permitting)
• Balloons filled with air: show the decrease in the volume of gas. A fun demonstration: pull numerous inflated balloons out of a dewar. At room temperature the balloons have a volume that is the same as the dewar.
• Rubber ball or rubber tubing: show how they become brittle.
• Various toys that shatter in fun ways
• Liquid nitrogen Ice cream

Discussion