NAME_______________________________DATE___________PER________
DRY ICE ACTIVITY (phase change activity)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide (CO2). In this lab you will observe the type of
phase change for dry ice. You will also observe and compare the properties of carbon dioxide gas to air.
SAFETY PRECAUTION! Dry ice is extremely cold and can damage
unprotected skin. Always wear goggles and use tongs when handling
dry ice. Keep your dry ice in a petri dish or other container. Dispose
any unused portion in a beaker of water. DO NOT REMOVE DRY ICE
FROM CLASSROOM.
PROBLEM(S): What type of phase change(s) will you observe with dry ice? Will carbon dioxide gas sink or float
in air? Will carbon dioxide gas support burning?
MATERIALS:
 Container containing:
o 2 Petri dishes
o Candle
o Clay
o Tongs
o Small cup
o Graduated cylinder
 Ice cubes
 Dry ice pellets
 Matches
PROCEDURE:
o Get a supply bin from the counter
o Bring your petri dish to get 3 to 4 dry ice pellets from your teacher.
o Place one frozen water ice cube on another dish.
o Wait a few minutes and observe the phase change of both dry ice and frozen water. (Answer
Observation #1 question)
o Using the tongs place a pellet of dry ice on your lab table. Place the frozen ice cube next to it. Give it a
little push and observe its motion. Do the same for the frozen water. (Answer Observation #2
question)
o Place all dry ice pellets in the small cup. Place the petri dish on top so no air can enter the beaker.
(Answer Observation #3 question)
o Place the birthday candle in a piece of clay to hold it up, and put it on your table
o Carefully light the candle.
o Remove the lid from the small beaker and pour the gas from the beaker over the candle flame. What
happens?
o Place cover over dry ice again. Relight candle and repeat step #8 to be certain of your observation.
(Answer Observation #4 question)
o Measure 100 ml of water in your graduated cylinder.
o Pour the water over the dry ice in the small cup. Observe the carbon dioxide gas. (Answer Observation
# 5 question)
RESULTS: DRY ICE OBSERVATIONS
1. What phase change did you observe for dry ice and frozen water?
Dry Ice
solid---_________________
Frozen water
solid---______________
2. How would you describe the motion of the dry ice pellet as compared to the ice cube?
3. What gas is building up in the covered beaker that contains dry ice? Is it visible?
4. What happens when carbon dioxide gas is poured over a flame?
5. Does carbon dioxide gas float or sink in air? How do you know?
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR FUN (May be demonstrated by teacher)
1. While the dry ice is still in the cup of water squirt a few drops of dishwashing liquid in the water.
Observe what happens. “Squeeze” some of the bubbles in your hand and observe what’s inside them.
2. Place a pellet or two of dry ice in a bottle or flask filled with a small amount of water. Place a balloon
over the top and observe what happens.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Does dry ice and frozen water undergo the same phase change? (If not name and define the phase
change for both.) Which phase change shows a greater difference in the motion of the molecules?
2. Why does the dry ice move with less friction than the ice cube? What game does this remind you of?
3. When dry ice is inside a covered beaker no gas is visible to your eye, yet in open air you can plainly see
a white vapor coming from it. What is this white vapor? (Hint: It is not carbon dioxide gas) What phase
change occurs to create this white vapor?
4. What do you know about the density of carbon dioxide gas compared to air? Explain how you know
this is true by stating an observation.