Szárazjég

Szárazjég is the Hungarian term for dry ice. Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2). It is a colorless solid that does not melt into a liquid at atmospheric pressure. Instead, it sublimates directly into gaseous carbon dioxide. This sublimation process occurs at a temperature of -78.5 degrees Celsius (-109.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Due to its extremely low temperature, dry ice is often used as a cooling agent. It is significantly colder than conventional water ice.

The sublimation of dry ice releases carbon dioxide gas, which is heavier than air. This means the gas can displace oxygen in enclosed spaces, posing a potential asphyxiation hazard if not handled with adequate ventilation. Despite this, dry ice has a wide range of applications. It is commonly used in the food industry for preserving perishable goods during transport without refrigeration. It also finds use in theatrical special effects to create fog or mist, and in laboratories for cooling reactions or preserving biological samples.

In the beverage industry, dry ice can be used to carbonate drinks, although this is less common than traditional methods. It is also employed in pest control for fumigation and in certain industrial cleaning processes, such as dry ice blasting, where the dry ice particles sublimate upon impact, cleaning surfaces without leaving any residue. Handling dry ice requires protective gloves to prevent frostbite.