Like I know it is made from carbon dioxide but what actually makes it so special compared to normal ice? And why is it so dangerous if it is ice?
In: Chemistry
It’s basically a frozen gas rather than a frozen liquid. It’s much colder than regular water ice which is what makes it dangerous. Handling it without protective equipment can very easily cause severe cold burns and if handling it in a closed space that’s not well ventilated all the carbon dioxide being released as it “melts” then the room gets filled with a lot of carbon dioxide which can basically displace the oxygen and cause hypoxia or even asphyxiation, though that is an extreme case but not impossible to happen.
What makes it special is that it doesn’t actually melt, rather it goes from a solid to a gas through a process known as sublimation. This property makes it particularly useful for things like cooling on equipment or areas where you cannot have water, like electronics. It’s also used for ice blasting for the same reason. Sandblasting is a catch all term for blowing tiny particles of something solid on surfaces to strip/clean them but many materials other than just sand are used, like metal shavings, plastic beads, and dry ice, which essentially leaves no trace afterwards as it turns into a gas, as opposed to every other material which makes a huge mess.
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