Liquid nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is a colorless, low viscosity liquid that is widely used as a coolant. Nitrogen was first liquefied at the Jagiellonian University on 15 April 1883. It can be used in the preparation of frozen desserts, such as ice cream. Because of its extremely low temperature, careless handling of liquid Nitrogen and any objects cooled by it may result in cold burns.

About Liquid nitrogen in brief

Summary Liquid nitrogenLiquid nitrogen is a colorless, low viscosity liquid that is widely used as a coolant. The temperature of liquid nitrogen can readily be reduced to its freezing point 63 K by placing it in a vacuum chamber pumped by a vacuum pump. Nitrogen was first liquefied at the Jagiellonian University on 15 April 1883 by Polish physicists Zygmunt Wróblewski and Karol Olszewski. It can be used in the preparation of frozen desserts, such as ice cream, which can be created within moments at the table because of the speed at which it cools food. It is also used to create a smoky effect, which occurs as tiny droplets of the liquid nitrogen come into contact with the surrounding air, condensing the vapour that is naturally present.

Because of its extremely low temperature, careless handling of liquid Nitrogen and any objects cooled by it may result in cold burns. Oxygen sensors are sometimes used to alert workers when working with liquid nitrogen to alert them of spills. Vessels containing liquid nitrogen condense from oxygen canense from air in a confined space. As liquid nitrogen evaporates, it reduces the oxygen concentration in the air and can act as an asphyxiant, especially in confined spaces. Ingestion of nitrogen can cause severe internal damage, due to the freezing of tissues in contact with it.