What is Dry Ice?

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2). Dry ice is extremely cold (-109.3 °F / -78.5 °C) and rapidly sublimates, or converts, into carbon dioxide gas at room temperature. Dry ice is colorless, odorless, and non-flammable, and can lower the pH of a solution when dissolved in water, forming carbonic acid (H2CO3).

Storage

Store dry ice in an insulated container. The thicker the insulation, the slower it will sublimate. Do not store dry ice in a completely airtight container. It may explode. Keep proper air ventilation wherever dry ice is stored. Suffocation can occur in too high a concentration. There are Commercial Storage Containers available for safe storage.

Dry Ice Uses:

There is a variety of dry ice uses and applications. Here are some common uses for dry ice:

  • Manufacturing

  • Shipping

    • Lab Samples

    • Food

  • Cold Storage

  • Metal Shrinking

  • Cleaning

  • Fog

    • Concerts

    • Cinema

    • Stage Productions

  • Power Outages

Safety:

Dry ice temperature is frigid. Always handle dry ice with care and wear protective gloves whenever touching it.


Caution: Always supervise children and pets around the dry ice!


Do not enter closed areas that have stored dry ice before airing out. Asphyxiation could occur if the level of CO2 has risen in a confined area.

safe handling of dry ice

Disposing of dry ice:

The best method for disposal is to unwrap and leave at room temperature in a well-ventilated area. It will sublimate from a solid into a gas.

Do not dispose of dry ice in sewers, sinks, toilets, bodies of water, garbage receptacles, unprotected boxes, areas accessible to the general pubic or on the ground when located over underground utilities.

Properties:

Property Amount
Critical Density 28.9855 LB/FT3
Critical Pressure 1066.3 PSIA
Critical Temperature 87.8°F
Density Gas 0.1234 LB/FT3@32°F
Density Liquid 63.69 LB/FT3@0°F
Latent Heat of Vaporization 241 BTU/LB 0°F
Molecular Weight 44.004
Sublimation Temperature -109.3°F or -78.5°C
Solubility in H2O 79FT3 CO2 GAS/FT3
(when H2O is at 32°F)
Triple Point -69°F 75.1 PSIA
Viscosity Gas 0.015 Centipoises @32°F
Viscosity Liquid 0.14 Centipoises @0°F
Chemical Formula CO2
Chemical Family Inorganic
bulk co2 storage tank

Shipping:

When shipping dry ice, use 8-10 pounds of dry ice for a 24 to 48-hour period in a standard well-insulated cooler. For longer times and larger coolers, multiply by this amount.