We have one of those small refrigerators under the counter at work. We keep bottles of water in the freezer part in the morning to be sure they get VERY cold by the afternoon. We noticed recently, that a very odd thing was happening when a bottle was opened.
Taking it out of the freezer and holding it up, it was still pure liquid. Very clear, clean water, and not frozen. As the bottle is opened, the water crystallizes before your eyes. Starting at the top, the water turns to a icy slush. The slush quickly forms through to the bottom of the bottle. This has become daily entertainment for us. "Quick, he's going to open a water, everyone to the office to watch ice form!". Many have witnessed the amazing ice trick, but nobody could explain the science behind it.
I did a bit of research online, and it seems we are "supercooling" the water. In the freezer, the water is below its freezing point (32 F), but the clean spring water doesn't have a place to start the crystallization process. When you open the bottle or if you shake it up, you will create a nucleation site in the molecules. I found this was the best site to read about it: Department of Energy
It's a fun trick. So, if you don't have a lot to do today, go watch water turn to ice!
2 comments:
Happens with beer too.
What happens if you throw one agains the wall as hard as you can?
Or waht happens if you smash it with a sledge hammer?
Tennis ball canon???
im just trying to help here
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