• Question: how cold is liquid nitrogen

    Asked by unicorn lover to Lewis on 8 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Lewis Wright

      Lewis Wright answered on 8 Mar 2017:

      In physics, when talking about temperature, officially we use the Kelvin scale.

      Zero Kelvin (0K) is called ‘absolute zero’ – it is when something has no heat, at all. None. It is impossible to reach absolute zero in reality.

      0K = -273.15C (celcius)

      At 1K (-272.15C), nitrogen is solid.
      Nitrogen melts to form liquid nitrogen at 63K (-210.15C).
      Liquid nitrogen boils to make nitorgen gas at 77K (-196.15C)

      For context, ice melts at 0C (273.15K), and water boils at 100C (373.15K).

      So the short answer is: very cold!

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