Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: paul.fr on 14/10/2007 12:49:21

Title: why did the water not fully freeze?
Post by: paul.fr on 14/10/2007 12:49:21

i filled some latex gloves with water and popped them in to the freezer, when i went to take them out this morning, there was a lovely frozen "hand". But, the middle was still water, and all i had was in effect an ice shell of a hand.

It was pretty cool and did give me some ideas to work with for halloween, but why did it not fully freeze?

Title: why did the water not fully freeze?
Post by: _Stefan_ on 14/10/2007 14:14:45

How long did you freeze them for?

Title: why did the water not fully freeze?
Post by: eric l on 14/10/2007 14:17:08

pressure increase due to the increase in volume as the water at the outside turns into ice ?  Increase pressure means lower freezing point).

Title: why did the water not fully freeze?
Post by: Bored chemist on 14/10/2007 14:24:19

Ice is quite a good insulator. Once the inside of the glove is covered in ice it will reduce the rate of heat transfer. The rest of the water would freeze but it will take a long time.

The effect of pressure on freezing point is small, about 1/100 of a degree per atmosphere. A typical freezer runs about -18C The ice shell certainly won't handle 1800 atmosphere's of pressure.