Dangerous Chemicals

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
Have you ever been hurt by the chemicals?
- 5P students
Washington School, Monticello, IL USA
A:
No-one working with the Physics Van has ever been hurt. It turns out we don't use any poisonous chemicals in any of the shows. The liquid nitrogen is very cold, which can of course make big problems if it's in contact with your skin, but we're careful about that. We don't use large enough quantities for it to raise any danger of the nitrogen displacing out too much oxygen.

We train our performers very well and are extremely careful, just in case.

(published on 10/22/2007)

Follow-Up #1: fixes to LN2

Q:
There is a typographical error in the response (dangerour). Additionally, claiming liquid nitrogen is wholly harmless except for being cold is a little misleading. While certainly the quantity you use in your demonstrations poses no danger, using large volumes of liquid nitrogen in confined spaces presents a real danger of suffocation. Thanks for a great site!
- Luke Davis (age 25)
Urbana, IL, USA
A:
Thanks, fixed.

Mike W.

(published on 12/05/2010)