Neat show - wow, liquid N2 ice creams brings back high school "experiment" memories for me :)
Wondering if the more readily available dry ice also works, even though it goes pretty much straight from solid to gas and probably has a higher boiling point.
Unfortunately there's aren't any inexpensive alternatives that I'm aware of. Dewars have to be engineered to contain cryogenic liquids for long periods of time and to equalize pressure differences to prevent the flask from turning into a very large dry-ice bomb. I've seen used ones on eBay for $300-$400 but not much cheaper
I did a web search and Dewar flasks seem to come from laboratory equipment stores. They are also quite pricy. Anyone know where to get a reasonably priced one? Is there a low cost substitute that is acceptable by gas supply stores?
I think this is my favorite episode yet. I see N2 ice cream being served at my Halloween party this year. By the way, I like that you've let your hair down now.
We got our N2 at Airgas in San Francisco where we are located. You need to have a proper transfer container, a Dewar flask is most appropriate, otherwise they won't sell to you.
It is dangerous because it freezes tissue pretty much immediately. Your eyes are mostly water, so shielding them is incredibly important. As for skin, you can get small burns if the N2 lands on the skin and sits there, or if it gets into your clothes, which can keep the freezing liquid close to your skin leading to worse burns. Interestingly, small amounts of N2 on flat skin, say the back of your hand or arm, will boil/evaporate off before burning you. It's just a good idea not to play with it (i.e. use safety precautions) and tempt an injury.
It is not toxic, as grhowes said. So, eat your fill of the ice cream!
I used to use quite a bit of liquid nitrogen as a graduate student. It is dangerous in the sense that you could freeze your fingers off. I've splattered some (very small) droplets on my face and forearms, and it gave a mild stinging sensation but didn't leave a mark. Chemically, it's quite inert and shouldn't react with anything in the human body, giving it zero nutritional value and no toxicity.
I don't know where you would buy it. My lab had a large refrigeration device to extract it from the atmosphere. You would probably have to buy a Dewar flask (a nice Thermos) and get it filled somewhere.
Same question as above: where can I get liquid nitrogen & is it harmful?
Dissappointed that these 2 questions weren't covered in the piece - seems pretty obvious.
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Neat show - wow, liquid N2 ice creams brings back high school "experiment" memories for me :)
Wondering if the more readily available dry ice also works, even though it goes pretty much straight from solid to gas and probably has a higher boiling point.
Albert,
Unfortunately there's aren't any inexpensive alternatives that I'm aware of. Dewars have to be engineered to contain cryogenic liquids for long periods of time and to equalize pressure differences to prevent the flask from turning into a very large dry-ice bomb. I've seen used ones on eBay for $300-$400 but not much cheaper
I did a web search and Dewar flasks seem to come from laboratory equipment stores. They are also quite pricy. Anyone know where to get a reasonably priced one? Is there a low cost substitute that is acceptable by gas supply stores?
I love this show, its way cool congrats! It's the hit on my iphone .
greetings from Mexico
Where are yall? Can't wait for the next update...miss ya! God bless!
I think this is my favorite episode yet. I see N2 ice cream being served at my Halloween party this year. By the way, I like that you've let your hair down now.
We got our N2 at Airgas in San Francisco where we are located. You need to have a proper transfer container, a Dewar flask is most appropriate, otherwise they won't sell to you.
It is dangerous because it freezes tissue pretty much immediately. Your eyes are mostly water, so shielding them is incredibly important. As for skin, you can get small burns if the N2 lands on the skin and sits there, or if it gets into your clothes, which can keep the freezing liquid close to your skin leading to worse burns. Interestingly, small amounts of N2 on flat skin, say the back of your hand or arm, will boil/evaporate off before burning you. It's just a good idea not to play with it (i.e. use safety precautions) and tempt an injury.
It is not toxic, as grhowes said. So, eat your fill of the ice cream!
I used to use quite a bit of liquid nitrogen as a graduate student. It is dangerous in the sense that you could freeze your fingers off. I've splattered some (very small) droplets on my face and forearms, and it gave a mild stinging sensation but didn't leave a mark. Chemically, it's quite inert and shouldn't react with anything in the human body, giving it zero nutritional value and no toxicity.
I don't know where you would buy it. My lab had a large refrigeration device to extract it from the atmosphere. You would probably have to buy a Dewar flask (a nice Thermos) and get it filled somewhere.
Same question as above: where can I get liquid nitrogen & is it harmful?
Dissappointed that these 2 questions weren't covered in the piece - seems pretty obvious.
Interesting. Where can one buy LN2 and does it have any nutritional value or harm?