Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 05/21/2007 - 10:10
Forums

 Dear Ms.Staup

 I read your entry about the nitrogen and orange juice. Why does the nitrogen turn everything into a frozen solid? And how exactly did you get the liquid nitrogen any how? Well answer if you have time.

Thanx-cheyenne H.

Robyn Sweet

Cheyenne H.-Liquid nitrogen is used because of its properties of having a really low boiling point of about -340 degrees F. That's extremely cold!! You can get instant frostbite just by touching it. We had it on the ship because one group of scientists were using the liquid nitrogen to condense the water vapor from gases they were measuring. Basically, as the gas passed through a tube submerged in liquid nitrogen, the water vapor became liquid water and the other gases moved on to be measured. Thanks for your question. Oh by the way, we did make a peach-kiwi sorbet using the leftover liquid nitrogen and it was yummy.
Robyn