| Liquid Nitrogen |
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, as these students are doing.]] Liquid nitrogen (liquid density at the triple point is 0.807 g/mL) is the liquid produced industrially in large quantities by Fractional Distillation of Liquid Air and is often referred to by the abbreviation, '''LN2'''. It is pure Nitrogen , in a liquid state. Liquid nitrogen is a Cryogenic fluid which is potentially capable of causing instant Frostbite on contact with living tissue. When appropriately Insulated from ambient Heat , liquid nitrogen can be stored and transported without significant evaporative losses. APPLICATIONS Liquid nitrogen is a compact and readily transported source of nitrogen gas without pressurization. Apart from this, the main applications involve liquid nitrogen as a Refrigerant . Further, its ability to maintain temperatures far below the Freezing Point of water (it boils at 77 K , which equals −196 ° C or −320 ° F ) makes it extremely useful in a wide range of applications as an open-cycle Refrigerant , including:
SAFETY Since the liquid to gas expansion ratio of this substance is 1:694,1 a tremendous amount of force can be generated when liquid nitrogen boils off for whatever reasons. In a well known accident in 2006 at Texas A&M University , the pressure-relief devices of a tank of liquid nitrogen were sealed with brass plugs. As a result, the tank failed catastrophically, and exploded. The force of the explosion was sufficient to propel the tank through the floor/ceiling immediately above it.2 SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
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