What Happens When you Touch Nitrogen?
Most recent answer: 10/16/2009
Q:
What happens when you touch nitrogen?
- Kay (age 12)
New York City
- Kay (age 12)
New York City
A:
Hi Kay,
I presume you mean liquid nitrogen which is extremely cold. Ordinary nitrogen at room temperature is a gas that makes up 78% of the air we breath. If you would touch liquid nitrogen very briefly (I advise that you don't do this) you would certainly feel cold. If you stuck you finger into a flask of it for some time the liquid nitrogen would boil furiously and then your finger would freeze solid. Not a good idea.
LeeH
I presume you mean liquid nitrogen which is extremely cold. Ordinary nitrogen at room temperature is a gas that makes up 78% of the air we breath. If you would touch liquid nitrogen very briefly (I advise that you don't do this) you would certainly feel cold. If you stuck you finger into a flask of it for some time the liquid nitrogen would boil furiously and then your finger would freeze solid. Not a good idea.
LeeH
(published on 10/16/2009)
Follow-Up #1: More on liquid nitrogen
Q:
Hi,It's me again.I would like to know "isn't nitrogen hot when you touch it?"Because I heard that it's burns you when you touch it.
- Kay (age 12)
New York City
- Kay (age 12)
New York City
A:
No, liquid nitrogen is very very cold, not hot. The so-called 'burn' is frost bite not a high temperature burn. The flesh actually freezes. This is not good.
LeeH
LeeH
(published on 10/20/2009)