demonstrations:freeze_antifreeze_with_liquid_nitrogen
Freeze Antifreeze with Liquid Nitrogen
Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★★☆ Can be done by science teachers
Safety: ★★★ Only to be attempted with adequate safety procedures and trained staff
Categories: Liquid Nitrogen
Alternative titles: Freezing Antifreeze
Summary
Antifreeze is usually a mixture of water and ethylene glycol (or propylene glycol), which lowers the freezing point of the liquid. When placed in liquid nitrogen at –196 °C, it freezes quite easily.
Procedure
- Place a small sample of antifreeze in a cryogenic-safe container e.g. metal.
- Wearing cryogenic gloves and safety glasses, carefully immerse the container into liquid nitrogen.
- Observe whether the antifreeze freezes, thickens, or changes appearance.
- Compare this with a sample of plain water exposed to liquid nitrogen under the same conditions.
- Remove the antifreeze after a short time and observe how it behaves as it warms.
Links
Is It Possible To Freeze Anti-Freeze? TKOR Finds Out What Antifreeze Does In Liquid Nitrogen - TKOR:
Variations
- Compare antifreeze with salt water to see how each resists freezing.
Safety Precautions
- Safety glasses required.
- Wear cryogenic gloves when handling liquid nitrogen.
- Use only in a well-ventilated area to avoid nitrogen gas buildup.
- Antifreeze is toxic - do not ingest or allow skin contact. Handle with chemical-resistant gloves if pouring or transferring.
- Dispose of antifreeze properly according to local hazardous waste guidelines.
- Never seal antifreeze in a container when cooling - expansion may cause it to burst.
Questions to Consider
- What ingredient in antifreeze lowers its freezing point?
- Why does liquid nitrogen sometimes thicken antifreeze instead of making it a solid block?
- How does freezing point depression relate to colligative properties of solutions?
- Why is antifreeze useful in car engines during winter?
- Would salt water or sugar water behave the same way when placed in liquid nitrogen?