What Will Happen if You Touch Dry Ice Without Protection?
What would happen if you were to touch dry ice without any protection?
Dry ice is one of the most fascinating objects. It is mysterious, foggy, elusive, and seemingly oxymoronic. The source of foggy Halloween decorations, fog in theatre shows, cleaning for medical and industrial facilities, amazement in science experiments, and much more, dry ice undoubtedly raises a lot of curiosity. What would happen if you were to touch dry ice without any protection? Read on to learn what would happen.
The Properties of Dry Ice
Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide. Much like water, which is dihydrogen monoxide (but not hydrogen dioxide, which doesn’t exist,) carbon dioxide in its solid form is always frozen cold. Manufacturers produce it as a snow-like substance, slabs, pellets, or blocks. Dries ice doesn’t melt and evaporate as water ice does. Frozen carbon dioxide will sublimate directly into the air, transforming a solid into a gas. Carbon dioxide exists in the earth’s atmosphere, so the gas blends in great with the rest of the air elements. Just try to make sure your area is well-ventilated, so the carbon dioxide doesn’t build up in the space.
The Effects of Dry Ice
Now, since dry ice is a frozen substance, resting around -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit, it is way too cold for the human touch to endure. Much like a very hot object, such as your stove, dry ice has the very same effect on your skin and could cause a burn. If you touch dry ice momentarily without any protective gear, it might cause redness to the affected skin area. If you ever hold dry ice in your hand for a longer time, you might get frostbite. Never ingest dry ice either, as doing so could produce severe or harmful burns to your throat, mouth, or esophagus.
What to Do if You Touched Dry Ice
Handling dry ice is no more dangerous than if you were to cook a meal. If you’re handling a hot pan handle or baking out of the oven, you will want to use a potholder or oven mitts. For dry ice, you will want to use some protective gloves if you’re handling it. If you do mistakenly burn yourself with the ice, try to soak your hand in lukewarm water. Don’t use hot water, as this could aggravate the burn even more. Then apply some ointments like aloe vera to help soothe the skin and bandage your wound.
Dry Ice For All Your Needs
Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge amount of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of dry ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200 or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
