demonstrations:dry_ice_balloon

Dry Ice Balloon

Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★★☆ Can be done by science teachers
Safety: ★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely

Categories: Dry Ice

Alternative titles: Inflate a Balloon with Dry Ice, Inflate a Glove with Dry Ice.

Summary

Pieces of dry ice are put inside a balloon causing it to inflate.

Procedure

  1. Put on gloves to handle dry ice safely.
  2. Hold open the neck of a balloon with your fingers or use a funnel.
  3. Place a few pellets or small pieces of dry ice into the balloon.
  4. Tie the balloon tightly to trap the dry ice inside.
  5. Set the balloon on a surface and watch as it inflates from the sublimating dry ice.

Dry Ice Balloon - Sick Science!:


📄🎞️ Dry Ice Balloon - Steve Spangler: https://stevespangler.com/experiments/dry-ice-balloon/

Variations

  • Experiment with crushing dry ice into smaller pieces to see if inflation is faster.
  • Use a latex glove instead of a balloon.
  • Use a sandwich bag with a small amount of water and dry ice, then seal it and watch it pop.

Safety Precautions

  • Always wear gloves when handling dry ice to prevent frostbite.
  • Do not hold the balloon in your hand while it inflates - set it on a surface.
  • Never put dry ice in your mouth.
  • Keep dry ice out of reach of children and pets.
  • Do not enclose dry ice in rigid airtight containers, as pressure buildup can cause explosions.

Questions to Consider

  • Why does dry ice turn directly from a solid into a gas instead of melting into liquid?
  • Why does frost form on the outside of the balloon?
  • Why does a dry ice balloon sink instead of floating like a helium balloon?