Dangerous Outcome of Sealing Dry-Ice in Box

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Pengwuino
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Sealing
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential dangers of sealing dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) in a box, exploring the consequences of pressure buildup and the risks associated with such an experiment. The scope includes theoretical implications and anecdotal evidence from similar experiments.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant hypothesizes that sealing a box with dry ice could create a dangerous pressurized environment, potentially leading to lethal outcomes.
  • Another participant questions the severity of the outcome, suggesting that while it could be harmful, it might be more likely to cause injury rather than death.
  • Anecdotal evidence is presented regarding a past incident where dry ice was used in a pressure cooker, resulting in a significant and surprising reaction.
  • A participant recalls a demonstration involving liquid nitrogen that elicited a strong reaction, implying that similar experiments with dry ice could also be dramatic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the severity of the potential outcomes, with some suggesting lethal risks and others proposing that the effects might be less severe. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact dangers of sealing dry ice in a box.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not specify the amount of dry ice or the size of the box, which may influence the outcomes discussed. The lack of detailed experimental parameters leaves some assumptions unaddressed.

Pengwuino
Gold Member
Messages
5,112
Reaction score
20
Ok let's see... what would happen if i completely sealed up a box with a block of CO2 in it (with room to evaporate).

My hypothesis is I create an incredibly dangerous pressurized box ready to kill someone. Am I right?
 
Science news on Phys.org
How much room?

Kill? Maybe. Maim? Little more likely. Scare the whey out of somebody? You betcha.

Some idiot pulled a similar stunt at a science fair at one of the local schools around ten years ago --- dry ice in Mom's pressure cooker. The table it was sitting under jumped a couple feet in the air --- the people in the room with it did likewise.
 
Basically a mini-fridge hehe.
 
I saw a demonstration once. Fellow put some liquid nitrogen in a plastic pop bottle ( 2 liter). Then he tossed it into a barrel full of room temperature water. Run away! Run away! Where's my umbrella?

Never tried it with dry ice, hmmm.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
18
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
6K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
90K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
5K