Smashing Flowers with Liquid Nitrogen

When a flower is immersed in liquid nitrogen, the water inside its cells freezes instantly, making the flower brittle. A gentle squeeze or tap causes the petals to shatter into pieces, demonstrating how extreme cold affects living tissues.

1. Place a flower (such as a rose or hibiscus) in a tray or container.
2. Wearing safety glasses and cryogenic gloves, carefully pour liquid nitrogen over the flower until it is completely cooled.
3. Allow the flower to sit for a few moments to freeze solid.
4. Using gloved hands or tongs, pick up the flower and squeeze it gently.
5. Observe as the petals crumble and fall apart, showing how brittle the flower has become.

Smashing Flowers Frozen in Liquid Nitrogen - SMUPhysics:

Rose in liquid nitrogen - frncisscheefilms:

📄 Freezing a flower in liquid nitrogen - Fizzics Education: https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/150-science-experiments/botany-experiments/freezing-a-flower-in-liquid-nitrogen/?srsltid=AfmBOopToLZUpvsakgsKZDnI3OQpGtRGVMhLFlXpNP7O0OSo6zgLQ93r

• Try different plant materials (lettuce leaves, spinach, bananas) to compare brittleness.
• Freeze a bouquet and break multiple flowers at once for a dramatic show effect.
• Compare the fresh, flexible flower with the frozen, brittle one side by side.

• Safety glasses required.
• Wear cryogenic gloves when handling liquid nitrogen.
• Use tongs for handling frozen flowers.
• Ensure good ventilation when using liquid nitrogen.
• Do not eat flowers after freezing.
• Be cautious of fragile petals breaking into small, sharp fragments.

• Why do flowers become brittle when frozen in liquid nitrogen?
• What happens to the water inside the plant cells at -196 °C?
• Why does the flower lose its flexibility compared to its normal state?
• How does this relate to the concept of cell structure and membranes?
• How is this principle applied in freeze-drying to preserve flowers or food?