• Question: What would happen if you put dry ice in a microwave?

    Asked by zgrafitipig to Carol, Ellie, John, Philip, Rebecca on 2 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Carol White

      Carol White answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      Lucky for you, someone has made an awesome youtube video of it!!

      Sorry about the really dodgy music though….

    • Photo: John Welford

      John Welford answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      Great video Carol!

      Quick summary:
      Microwaves will not actually cause any heating directly within the dry ice. This is because the molecules of carbon dioxide are symmetric and therefore microwave radiation does not cause a movement (and therefore heating effect) within them.

      However, if it gets heated by other elements in the microwave (the plate or any surrounding water) dry ice will sublimate into carbon dioxide gas faster it does at room temperature.

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