Carbon dioxide

What is dry ice?

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide and is commercially available as solid dry ice in blocks or pellets.

The white vapor that is seen coming off from dry ice is in fact condensed water vapor from the air.

Carbon dioxide at normal room temperature and pressure is an odorless, colorless gas that is denser than air. The melting point of carbon dioxide is −56.6 °C or −69.9 °F

Dry ice sublimes on melting. It does not produce a liquid. The carbon dioxide gas changes directly from the solid state to the gaseous state.

The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is CO₂. One carbon atom is covalently bonded to two oxygen atoms in a linear arrangement. Each atom of oxygen is joined to a carbon atom by a double covalent bond.

Carbon dioxide is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and by the process of cellular respiration.

Carbon dioxide is also essential for the process of photosynthesis in the manufacture of sugars by plants.