Characteristics and Important Uses of Carbon Dioxide and Dry Ice

Carbon dioxide is an inorganic gaseous carbonprocess to encourage the formation of a liquid. If
compound. As early as the 1600s, people hadthe gas inside the vessel is roughly at room
started to think about this gas, although theytemperature, liquefaction starts when the
didn't know what it really was and what to call it.pressure is about 870 pounds per square inch
Flemish chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont made(ppsi), or about 6,000 kilopascals.
observations which hinted about the existence ofThe next step is pretty simple. In any given
carbon dioxide, setting the stage for breakthroughchunk of matter, there will be certain molecules
work in the 18th century by Joseph Black, amoving very fast, and some moving much more
Scottish chemist who identified carbon dioxide andslowly. Their average velocity is what we call the
explored many of its properties. By the 1800s,temperature. After enough heat evaporates, the
scientists had succeeded in creating and studyingtemperature of the liquid drops below freezing, a
other forms of carbon dioxide, such as its solidphase transition occurs, and we are left with solid
form.carbon dioxide – dry ice. Dry ice is usually
At room temperature, carbon dioxide takes thestored in insulated containers. When exposed to
form of an odorless, colorless gas which isair, it starts to give off carbon dioxide gas
incombustible in normal conditions. Carbon dioxideimmediately, because the temperature difference
can be forced into a solid form, in which case it isbetween the dry ice and the environment is
known as dry ice, and the gas is toxic to animalssufficiently large that it mostly skips the liquid
in high concentrations. People who happen to inhalephase and just turns into gas. Some carbon
too much carbon dioxide essentially suffocate,dioxide is turned into vapor. Dry ice is used all the
ultimately falling into unconsciousness as theirtime to produce artificial fog for stage
oxygen saturation level drops.performances. It can also be used in combination
The gas has a wide range of commercial uses,with light shows, scattering the light so that it can
from the production of lasers to the carbonationbe easily seen. It  has become increasingly
of soft drinks. This compound exists naturally inpopular in respect of its uses in the past few
the Earth's environment, and is produced in ayears.  The most common use of dry ice is in
variety of ways. Commercial carbon dioxide isthe food industry, where it's used to preserve
usually derived from the byproducts of industrialperishable items and to carbonate liquids. Adding
processes. In addition to its production throughdry ice to any fruit juices or water will result in a
respiration and combustion, the compound issparkling drink. Dry ice also prevents the growth
produced through decomposition of organicof bacteria, so it can be used to preserve dry
materials as well. This gas is used for things likeseeds, grains.
creating an inert environment for fire suppression,A simple use of dry ice is to freeze fruits. Fruits
and the carbonation of beverages, among manyfrozen with dry ice will thaw firm, not soggy. Pop
other things.  Rocks, a carbonated candy that "explodes" when
Amounts of carbon dioxide in the environmentput in the mouth, is made with pressurized dry
prior to the advent of the 20th century wereice. Campers have another use for dry ice: they
kept stable by plants, which were capable ofcan keep food fresh for a longer period of time
absorbing carbon dioxide. While this gas is entirelywithout having to worry about sogginess. 
natural, some people realized about rising carbonAnother use for dry ice has to do with medicine,
dioxide levels towards the end of the 20thwhere it's commonly used to preserve and ship
century and became concerned having found thatbiological samples. Cosmetic surgeons use dry ice
humans were producing too much carbon dioxideto freeze warts for easy removal. The
for plants to process, a practice which couldentertainment industry also has a popular use for
potentially lead to serious environmental problems.dry ice. When dry ice comes in contact with
Now this humble gas has become a topic ofwater, it condenses and forms a thick white fog.
interest for humans because it is classified amongBecause dry ice can shrink metal, a common use
the offensive gases, gases which impact theof dry ice is to pop out small dents and to shrink
Earth's environment when they reach highmachine parts before assembly.
concentrations in the atmosphere.A lesser known use for dry ice has to do with
Dry ice is very useful as a coolant because of itskeeping mosquitoes and some other insects
low temperature, -109.3°F (-78.5°C). It is alsoaway. Mosquitoes are attracted to CO2 and
relatively easy to make.  Scientists sometimesnaturally flow towards dry ice. We can place
need just a small quantity of dry ice which can besome pieces of dry ice around a mosquito trap to
achieved easily. A mixture of gaseous carbonkeep mosquitoes away. Wood beetles can be
dioxide and dry ice is produced when part of theeliminated from furniture by placing the piece
escaping gas condenses on the cloth. Thisinside a sealed freezer with several pounds of dry
approach is the most straightforward way toice. The insects and eggs will suffocate within 24
produce a small amount of dry ice for laboratoryhours.  However, dry ice can be dangerous if not
use.handled properly as with a temperature of
To produce larger quantities of dry ice,-109.3°F (-78.5°C), it can severely burn the skin
evaporative cooling is necessary. First, liquefiedand cause suffocation if inhaled. The use of special
carbon dioxide is produced by compressing carbongloves is highly recommended when handling dry
dioxide gas. Because the temperature of aice. If working with dry ice indoors one must
substance increases as it is compressed, the gasensure that the space is well ventilated.
must be cooled throughout the compression