demonstrations:dry_ice_fog
Dry Ice Fog
Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely
Categories: Dry Ice
Alternative titles: Dry Ice Fog Effects
Summary
Dry ice is combined with hot water in a lidded bucket to generate a thick white fog that spills over the rim and creeps across the floor.
Procedure
- Ensure the room is well ventilated
- Pour some warm water into a bucket or plastic container.
- Add dry ice, and fog is produced that moves downward to the floor.
Links
How To Make The Perfect Fog Effect Using Dry Ice! - Chillistick:
In a giant pool: TechRax:
📄 How To Make A Big Fog Effect - Chillistick: https://www.chillistick.com/user/downloads/Primary%20Science%20Pack%20Experiments.pdf
Variations
- Compare fog made with hot water versus cold or chilled water.
- Dim the room lights and shine a flashlight through the fog to show light scattering.
Safety Precautions
- Adult supervision required; keep students seated and at a distance.
- Use hot water only after letting a freshly boiled kettle cool for a few minutes to reduce scald risk.
- Wear insulated or dry-ice handling gloves when loading dry ice.
- Never seal dry ice in a closed container; use the vented lid provided.
- Ensure good ventilation; keep doors/windows open during the demo.
- Do not allow students to touch dry ice; it can cause cold burns.
- Students must not remove dry ice from the demonstration area.
- Mop up any condensation on the floor to prevent slipping.
Questions to Consider
- Why does the fog flow downward instead of rising? (The fog contains carbon dioxide and tiny water droplets, making the mixture denser than air, so it sinks.)
- What changes if you use cold water instead of hot water? (Less fog forms because colder water provides less heat to drive sublimation and condensation.)
- Why does the fog look white? (Light scatters from the tiny suspended water droplets, similar to clouds and natural fog.)
- How could you make an even bigger fog effect safely? (Use slightly hotter water (still below boiling), a bit more dry ice, and maintain ventilation while keeping the container vented.)