When carbon dioxide (CO2) is mixed with liquid nitrogen (LN2), several things can occur depending on the specific conditions and proportions of the gases. Here are a few possible outcomes:
Cooling: Liquid nitrogen is extremely cold, with a boiling point of -195.79 degrees Celsius (-320.42 degrees Fahrenheit). When carbon dioxide, which is a gas at room temperature, comes into contact with liquid nitrogen, it will rapidly cool down and condense into a solid known as dry ice. This occurs because the temperature of the liquid nitrogen is significantly lower than the boiling point of carbon dioxide (-78.5 degrees Celsius or -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit).
Sublimation: Dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide, will readily undergo sublimation when exposed to ambient conditions. Sublimation is the process in which a substance transitions directly from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid phase. So, when carbon dioxide (dry ice) is mixed with liquid nitrogen, the dry ice may sublimate into gaseous carbon dioxide.
Mixing: Carbon dioxide is a non-reactive gas, and liquid nitrogen is also inert. Therefore, when the two are mixed, they will not react chemically. Instead, they will remain as separate gases (carbon dioxide) and liquid (liquid nitrogen) unless specific conditions, such as high pressure or temperature, are applied to induce a reaction.
It's important to handle both carbon dioxide and liquid nitrogen with caution, as they are cryogenic substances and can cause severe cold-related injuries if proper safety measures are not followed.