Will ice Evaporate From Frozen wet Clothes?

Most recent answer: 01/16/2013

Q:
If I put a wet piece of clothing outside in a sub freezing dry climate would it freeze or would the the water sublimate?
- Kate (age 12)
Denver, CO, USA
A:

That's a nice question. At first the water in the clothes will freeze. If the air is dry (low relative humidity) that means that more water molecules will leave the ice to the air than come in from the air. So the ice will gradually sublimate away, just as you suspected.

Mike W.


(published on 01/16/2013)