Keep the Medicine Cold
Most recent answer: 02/13/2013
Q:
I want to keep some medicine frozen during travel. If I make ice packs out of fresh water and salt water, which will keep the medicine cold longer?
- Ann Kopelousos (age 67)
Fleming Island
- Ann Kopelousos (age 67)
Fleming Island
A:
Hello Ann,
This is a very interesting question. The answer actually depends on how cold you want to keep the medicine and how long your trip is.
As a matter of fact, salt water has a lower freezing point (-21 °C or -5.8 °F) than fresh water. Thus, if you want to keep your medicine at a temperature below 0 °C (32 °F), using salt water might be a better choice.
But on the other hand, as the ice-salt water mixture is much colder than the environment, it absorbs heat from the surroundings faster than fresh water, meaning the salt ice probably melts faster. If time is a bigger issue for you, I would recommend using fresh water, as it can stay in solid form longer, hence keeping the medicine cold for a longer time. Also, if you use much salt there will be a little less room for ice.
That said, the choice of whether to use salt water or fresh water really depends on which factor you care more about.
Hope this helps,
Lingyi
This is a very interesting question. The answer actually depends on how cold you want to keep the medicine and how long your trip is.
As a matter of fact, salt water has a lower freezing point (-21 °C or -5.8 °F) than fresh water. Thus, if you want to keep your medicine at a temperature below 0 °C (32 °F), using salt water might be a better choice.
But on the other hand, as the ice-salt water mixture is much colder than the environment, it absorbs heat from the surroundings faster than fresh water, meaning the salt ice probably melts faster. If time is a bigger issue for you, I would recommend using fresh water, as it can stay in solid form longer, hence keeping the medicine cold for a longer time. Also, if you use much salt there will be a little less room for ice.
That said, the choice of whether to use salt water or fresh water really depends on which factor you care more about.
Hope this helps,
Lingyi
(published on 02/13/2013)