how to make dry ice from soda and vinegar at home, reviews

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide that has no taste or aroma. The substance is light in color, does not harm health, and is not flammable. The temperature of solid carbon dioxide is minus 80 degrees.

If the substance is kept at a temperature of +15-20 degrees, then it will turn into smoke or steam. CO2 is made at home by selecting the right ingredients and their ratios. It is used to create special effects, to decorate drinks, and for magic tricks.

To create the substance, baking soda and some other components are useful.

Application of dry ice

Dry ice is considered a universal substance that performs different tasks. Used for industrial purposes: for freezing meat products and fish. They are used to transport goods over long distances and preserve their original appearance.

By placing one piece of special ice in a glass of water, the liquid becomes carbonated. The action can be repeated with juice to obtain lemonade.

The element is used at holidays to cool drinks. CO2 produces smoke at parties. Some people use a non-standard element to repel mosquitoes.

Creating CO2 is an interesting, useful experiment. If desired, it can be carried out at home, having previously read the recipe.

What is dry ice

In fact, this substance has nothing in common with frozen water, that is, with ordinary ice, except for the ability to maintain low temperatures or cool something. The formula of dry ice is the same as that of carbon dioxide - CO2. In fact, it is a gas that has been transferred to a solid state of aggregation, bypassing the liquid phase.

We encounter this chemical compound every day. It is contained in exhaled air. When buying sparkling water or a drink in a store, you have often seen how bubbles of carbon dioxide rush out when you open the bottle.

A large amount of it is released with transport exhaust gases and is contained in the surrounding air. Due to its ability to suppress combustion processes, it is used in the production of fire extinguishers for household and industrial use. Carbon dioxide is used by plants to carry out the process of photosynthesis. But isolating it from the environment is a very labor-intensive and costly process.

Necessary materials

For the experiment, special materials are prepared, sold in a regular store. There will be no problems with the purchase.

List of materials:

Acetic acid.
Pan, glass.
Cotton cloth or paper napkin.
Glasses or a mask to protect your eyes.
Household gloves.
Baking soda.

The list of components varies depending on the selected recipe. Some people make ice using a fire extinguisher, while others use powdered sodium acetate. The set of elements is specified for each option.

Once the materials are purchased, the CO2 manufacturing process begins. It is important to take precautions for a successful procedure.

How to store dry ice at home

Both regular ice and dry ice are short-lived if stored at room temperature. The only difference is that dry does not turn into liquid, but evaporates. To preserve this substance for as long as possible, you need to know a few rules.

The ideal option is to purchase a specialized container. The walls of such containers are multilayered and consist of metal or plastic combined with foam. Dry ice can be stored in such containers for a long time without evaporating.
If such a container is not found, put the ice in any container made of durable material - cardboard, plastic or metal.
Do not seal the container tightly! Please note that gas released as a result of evaporation may cause an explosion.
Glass, porcelain or ceramic dishes are not suitable for storage - they will crack from low temperatures.
There is no need to put dry ice in the freezer, you risk damaging your equipment.
You can make a container for storing ice yourself: you will need a cardboard box and polystyrene foam to line its walls. Dry ice should be stored in such a container, covered with a piece of foam plastic.

Precautionary measures

Solid carbon dioxide requires careful handling. People follow safety precautions when obtaining useful substances. It is necessary to protect your hands and eyes. The element is capable of affecting the skin and mucous membranes, leaving thermal burns. It is allowed to work with it wearing gloves and safety glasses.

Expert opinion

Attention!

If there is a large amount of ice in a closed space, carbon dioxide poisoning can occur. The element must not be transported in a car with the windows closed, nor placed in a sewer or trash bin.

For disposal, the element is converted into a gaseous state. It is left at room temperature or filled with water. For transportation, it is allowed to use a bucket with air access or a container.

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Dry ice from a fire extinguisher

Initially, to obtain dry ice you will need a fire extinguisher, a thick fabric bag and wire or adhesive tape.

The existing bag must be attached to the base of the fire extinguisher socket so that there are no holes left. To be sure, it is better to seal it with tape or insulating tape. Tightness plays a very important role here. Next, you should carefully remove the fuse from the handle of the fire extinguisher and release several jets of carbon dioxide by pressing the release valve. Thus, carbon dioxide, which is under pressure in the fire extinguisher cylinder, does not have time to cool down and accumulates in the bag in the form of powder or crystals. To prevent it from evaporating, it must be placed in an airtight container or bag and tightly closed.

In the same way, you can get dry ice with your own hands from a carbon dioxide cylinder, which is used for welding work. The cylinder valve should be opened very slowly, since the gas pressure in it is very high. You should be extremely careful not to allow carbon dioxide to come into contact with the skin of your hands and face, as this can cause frostbite.

Method for making ice from a test tube

This option is suitable for people who want to make solid carbon dioxide at home. You will need a fire extinguisher, glasses, acetic acid, and a plastic bag. You will have to carry out some laboratory experiments strictly according to the instructions.

First you need to extract carbon dioxide: mix sodium bicarbonate and table vinegar. For the convenience of collecting gas, a special glass test tube with a gas outlet tube is used. The tip is placed in water.

In this case, rising bubbles of carbon dioxide will begin to fill another test tube, gradually displacing the liquid. To get a significant amount of gas, they will need to fill a plastic bag.

To create ice, specific conditions must be created. It is important to cool carbon dioxide immediately. The package is mounted on a fire extinguisher or on a cylinder, from which two or three jets are released into the package. This will ensure the necessary cooling. Carbon dioxide from the bag will precipitate in the solid phase.

Why do you need a fire extinguisher?

Anyone wondering how to make dry ice should be aware that the process is not safe. You should prepare for it carefully.

First of all, you will need a fire extinguisher. No, there will be no fire, but nevertheless this is one of the main components. Otherwise the experiment will not work. If someone is interested in how to make dry ice without a fire extinguisher, then this is only possible in an industrial environment using a special installation. But for home experiments, an expensive installation is not suitable.

How to make dry ice? To make it yourself you will need a large amount of carbon dioxide. Simply breathing into a bag, relying on the capacity of your lungs, is not enough. That's why a fire extinguisher is required.

There is a large amount of carbon dioxide inside the fire extinguisher, which hardens when exposed to air. When using it, white foam flies out, which is absolutely safe. It does not contain impurities or toxins and does not smell of anything. It is this dioxide that is needed for the experiment.

Instant recipe

Take a small saucepan and place it on the gas stove.
Vinegar is poured into the bottom, NaHCO3 is poured onto the bottom, and the resulting mixture is stirred.
After achieving homogeneity, pour into a glass and place in the refrigerator for further cooling.

The resulting liquid is called sodium acetate. The proportions of soda and vinegar are the same for a successful recipe.

A frozen mixture of NaHCO3 and acid is taken out of the refrigerator. In this case, the liquid must freeze completely, otherwise it will not be possible to make ice.
Taking sodium acetate out of the refrigerator, the experiment immediately begins.
The mixture is placed on the fire and begins to melt.

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The liquid must be poured into another container; the container is covered with a napkin to prevent premature hardening.

The remaining sodium acetate is taken into the hand to proceed to the next stage of the experiment.

The napkin is removed from the vessel, then the person touches the surface of the liquid with his hand.
After contact with sodium acetate, an amazing transformation into ice will begin.

Safety precautions

Before using a fire extinguisher for your experiments, you should make sure that it is carbon dioxide. There must be a special information marking on its body. The use of other types of fire extinguishers will not achieve the expected results and may be dangerous.

Do not try to get dry ice from gas or air gun cylinders. Opening these objects is extremely dangerous and can lead to unpredictable consequences. When working with a fire extinguisher, it is necessary to use protective glasses and gloves to avoid cold carbon dioxide from contacting mucous membranes.

It is best to purchase a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher from an appropriate store. Then you can be sure that it is completely intact. Dry ice can be obtained from it by periodically refilling it, for example, in a fire department.

Cooking formula with soda, vinegar, salt

To prepare solid carbon dioxide according to this recipe, you will need to prepare the materials in the correct proportions. Components may not be replaced without permission.

Ratio:

For 25.25 grams of sodium bicarbonate, use 200 ml of 9% vinegar.
When using 30% essence, 87.4 g of soda is used.
At a concentration of 70%, 210 grams of NaHCO3 are used.

To check the correct ratio of the components, heating is carried out. After waiting for the reaction, a small amount of acid is added. When gas is released with a hissing sound, more acid must be added. Pour gently until the mixture subsides.
Excess water from the solution is evaporated on the stove. The action is carefully controlled; when the crust forms, the heating stops. The composition is infused for 5 minutes.
When the crust expands and the solution is tightened with ice, a few drops of boiling water are poured in.
The mixture is stirred, lumps and ice are removed.
The resulting thick mass is placed in a glass jar and placed in the refrigerator.
Cools to a temperature of +15-20 degrees.
If the instructions are followed correctly, a pinch of table salt is added, which activates crystallization. This produces dry ice.

Expert opinion

Advice!

When crystallization does not occur or is weak, the problem is a lack of acetate. There must be more of it in order for solid carbon dioxide to form. As an alternative, it is recommended to use commercial sodium acetate, available in powder form. The recipe will differ from the instructions described above.

The crystals are poured into water - take 5 small spoons for 3 of the same spoons of liquid.
The microwave is set for 10 seconds, if necessary, time is added until the solution becomes clear.
The grains remaining on the walls of the dish are carefully removed.
The mixture is placed in the refrigerator until it cools.
An acetate granule is added to initiate crystallization.

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From soda and vinegar

The preparation method is similar to the previous one:

Mix baking soda and acetic acid (1:1). There should be no reaction (foaming).
Heat the mixture until the liquid evaporates and a thick crust begins to form on the surface.
Cool to room temperature.
Don't interfere. After 15-20 minutes, a monolithic lump of crystalline sodium hydrate will appear.
The liquid remaining after “freezing” is sodium vinegar. Drain it into a separate container.
Crystallize the crystallized substance.
Pour into a clean bowl, cover with a napkin, and cool.
Pour in some of the previously drained vinegar. The liquid will freeze immediately.

The solution can be reused.

Remove the substance at room temperature. Do not flush the waste down the drain, but wait until the substance evaporates naturally.

Making dry ice from compressed carbon dioxide

The whole technology will require a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher and an old pillowcase, which you don’t mind sacrificing. This should not be done indoors, but in an open space, away from children and pets.

It should be borne in mind that you will need carbon dioxide, and not foam or powder fire extinguishers, which have a completely different filling.

Many household fire extinguishers contain sodium or potassium bicarbonates, but there is absolutely no carbon dioxide, without which you cannot make dry ice. You can distinguish a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher by the markings on the label or by the funnel-shaped socket for spraying the flame-extinguishing agent; in addition, it does not have a pressure gauge indicating pressure. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher can be purchased at a specialty store or online.

Safety precautions should be taken to protect your eyes and hands. The very low temperature of dry ice upon contact with skin can almost instantly cause severe thermal burns (in this case, frostbite). Although no special protective suits are required for direct use of fire extinguishers, every precaution must be taken to avoid contact with dry ice. Therefore, before starting the experiment, you need to wear the following:

safety laboratory glasses;
thick fabric gloves (woolen ones are fine, but it’s completely useless to use thin rubber gloves);
clothing must completely cover the body and limbs;
It is advisable to wear a lab coat over your clothing.

Procedure

Insert the nozzle into the pillowcase, gather it around it and secure the pillowcase fabric tightly behind the nozzle so that there are no gaps left for gas to escape. The pillowcase can be wrapped with tape for security. Although the pressure will be small, it won’t hurt to play it safe.
When everything is ready, you need to press the lever and let the gas fill the pillowcase for two to three seconds. The ice will fall to the bottom, although this will not be visible through the fabric. Then you need to release the fire extinguisher lever. Carbon dioxide will begin to seep through the pillowcase. It's not too dangerous as long as it doesn't happen in a small room, which is why it's worth doing outdoors. If the lever does not budge, you need to make sure that the safety pin has been removed before starting work.
Then the pillowcase fasteners should be unwound and the bell should be released from it. When sliding the pillowcase along the socket, it should be pressed tightly against it to remove frozen ice. At the bottom of the pillowcase there will be a loose pile of dry ice that resembles styrofoam balls.
Try to keep the bag vertical. You should not make more ice than required; the excess will simply evaporate.
You can safely touch dry ice wearing thick protective fabric gloves. But if they are too thick, they will quickly let you feel how cold the dry ice is.
Next, the resulting ice needs to be transferred from the pillowcase to a more suitable storage, preferably a container made of frost-resistant plastic, or even better, a thermos. The larger and more monolithic the piece of dry ice, the slower it will evaporate.
The thermos or container must not be hermetically sealed. After all, the ice will inevitably sublimate, forming carbon dioxide, which will simply rip off the tight lid or explode the container. The lid can only be used to lightly cover the container.

How to store dry ice?

It is important to know not only how to make dry ice at home, but also to be able to preserve it. Not all materials are suitable for storing dry ice.

Avoid using glass, porcelain or ceramic dishes (unless they are heat-resistant), which may crack due to cold.
Fashionable metal containers can also become warped and damaged when in contact with ice.
It is much safer to store dry ice in plastic containers designed for preparing regular ice in the freezer.
It is best to store dry ice in a loosely covered metal thermos.

Video on how to make dry ice

Dry ice from carbon dioxide cylinders

Of course, not everyone has a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. But instead, you can use a canister filled with carbon dioxide - these are sold in hardware stores. But before purchasing such a cylinder, you need to make sure that it has a nozzle in the form of a immersion tube, which can be purchased separately. From a cylinder with a dip tube, gas comes from the bottom, which makes it possible to generate dry ice. If the cylinder does not have a tube, then gas is supplied from its upper part and such a cylinder is not suitable. Cylinders with immersion tubes are marked with two white stripes, while those without them are simply black. If you need to make dry ice often, it is better to buy a special device - a nozzle with a fabric bag, which can be easily attached and unfastened from the cylinder.

The process describing how to make dry ice is exactly the same. The nozzle is attached to the can and wrapped around the pillowcase, after which the gas is released within a few seconds, and the resulting ice falls to the bottom of the pillowcase. Security measures are the same as described above.