Pour boiling water in liquid nitrogen --- the reaction is spectacular!

by Shirley Marie Bradby

September 12, 2016

Pour boiling water in liquid nitrogen --- the reaction is spectacular!
Advertisement

Nitrogen in normal conditions is an odorless and colorless gas and it has a very low boiling point (-195°C), therefore extremely low temperatures must be reached to obtain it in its liquid form.

This incautious "scientist" decided to add a quantity of boiling water to a big bucket containing liquid nitrogen. The result was a very large and extensive gaseous cloud that expanded very quickly.

Although for him the experiment was successful, still his conduct was very risky because when the nitrogen cloud expands it eliminates the oxygen in the affected area. Consequently, inhaling this noxious gas leads to immediate and general body poisoning (including difficulty in breathing).

Advertisement