It is my understanding that when ice cubes “shrink” in the freezer over time, it is due to sublimation. How does sublimation work exactly? What causes the change in state?
In: Chemistry
There is no sublimation. Sublimation is changing from solid to gas without going through a liquid phase. To my knowledge carbon dioxide (CO2) when frozen (dry ice) will sublimate when changing from solid to gas. Water will actually swell or increase in volume when freezing.
Any shrinkage is like the water content of whatever is freezing escaping and manifesting as ice crystals on the surface (freezer burn) resulting in shrinkage of the main item. At least that what I think happens.
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