Blow up a Balloon with Dry Ice

PIRA: 4C40.15

Overview:

This demonstration uses dry ice and a balloon to effectively illustrate the principles of sublimation and the ideal gas law. Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is placed inside a balloon, and as it is exposed to warmer ambient temperatures, it undergoes sublimation, meaning it directly transitioning from a solid to a gaseous state without becoming a liquid. This process produces carbon dioxide gas, which expands to fill the balloon. The increasing volume of the balloon as more dry ice sublimates vividly demonstrates the relationship described by the ideal gas law: as the amount of gas increases, so does the volume, assuming constant pressure and temperature.

Materials:

All that is needed is a chunk of dry ice and a balloon.

Setup:

Take a small piece of dry ice and put it inside a deflated balloon. Tie off the balloon. 

How to:

Watch the balloon expand as it fills with CO2 gas.

Safety:

Do not hold dry ice for long periods of time.