Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Xenia Sibova on 22/10/2008 08:49:13

Title: Why did my frozen blueberries get a coating of ice?
Post by: Xenia Sibova on 22/10/2008 08:49:13

Xenia Sibova  asked the Naked Scientists:

Hey Chris,
Great show, have been listening for a long time. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/)

I put a cup of frozen blueberries in a bowl and filled it with room temperature water. Every single blueberry instantly got a coat of ice around it, when I broke the ice with my spoon, the berries inside were completely melted and squishy.

What happened and why?

thank you! keep up the great work.

Xenia (Ze-ni-ya) from Cambridge Mass, US

What do you think?

Title: Why did my frozen blueberries get a coating of ice?
Post by: daveshorts on 22/10/2008 14:10:22

Blueberries are filled with sugar which will act as antifreeze, so the blueberries will melt at a temperature below zero. So if you cover them with water they will melt at -4°C or -5°C by stealing energy from the water which of course freezes at 0°C.