Liquid Nitrogen (LN₂)
Ultra-Cold. Ultra-Versatile. Incredibly Essential.
Liquid Nitrogen (LN₂) is nitrogen in its cryogenic liquid form, boiling at a remarkable –195.8°C (–320.4°F). This colorless, odorless, and non-flammable liquid is known for its extreme cold and exceptional inertness, making it indispensable across a wide range of industries. Produced through fractional distillation of liquid air, LN₂ is valued for its ability to freeze, preserve, and protect with precision and reliability.
Key Properties
- Boiling Point: –195.8°C (77K)
- Density: 0.807 g/ml at boiling point
- Dielectric Constant: 1.43
- Non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-reactive
- Stored and transported in super-insulated vacuum flasks to maintain ultra-low temperatures with minimal evaporation loss
Applications of Liquid Nitrogen
- Cryogenic Freezing: Rapid freezing of food, biological samples, and tissues
- Heat-Sensitive Machining: Enables precise cutting or shaping of plastics, rubber, pharmaceuticals, and specialty metals
- Cryo-Surgery: Destroys diseased tissues with ultra-cold precision
- MRI Pre-Cooling: Used to cool MRI magnets before liquid helium application
- Inert Atmospheres: Shields sensitive materials from oxidation and combustion
Did You Know?
Nitrogen makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere. Yet, transforming it into its liquid form requires advanced technology—first achieved in 1883 by Polish scientists Wróblewski and Olszewski.
