The Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois

The Chemistry learning center

The Effect of Liquid Nitrogen on a Rose

red rose in liquid nitrogen

What happens when a rose is immersed in liquid nitrogen?

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thumbnail of glass tube with liquid nitrogen

The insulated glass container contains liquified nitrogen gas at a temperature of -196 o C. The liquid is boiling because it has absorbed heat from the room, which is around 225 degrees warmer than the liquid.

thumbnail of rose in liquid nitrogen

The rose freezes very quickly in liquid N2.

thumbnail of frozen rose being broken by stick

The rose becomes as hard and brittle as porcelain and can be easily shattered.

Chemistry at Illinois University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign