Liquid Nitrogen

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.

Liquid nitrogen is a compact and readily transported source of nitrogen gas without pressurization. Further, its ability to maintain temperatures far below the freezing point of water (it boils at 77 K, ?196 °C, ?320 °F) makes it extremely useful in a wide range of applications, primarily as an open-cycle refrigerant, including:

* in the study of cryogenics

* the immersion freezing and transportation of food products

* the cryopreservation of blood, reproductive cells (sperm and egg), and other biological samples and materials

* the cryonic preservation of humans and pets in the hope of future reanimation.

* as a coolant for highly sensitive sensors and low-noise amplifiers

* as a cooling supplement for overclocking a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, or another type of computer hardware

* as a cooling medium during machining of high strength materials.

* as a method of freezing water pipes in order to work on them in situations where a tap is not available to block water flow to the work area.
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