How to Make Ice Using Silica Gel
Silica gel was patented by Walter A. Patrick, a chemistry professor at Johns Hopkins University, in 1919. Silica gel was used to absorb gases and vapors in gas mask canisters to protect soldiers. Silica gel absorbs moisture and is now used as a desiccant, which helps keep products dry. When heat is applied to silica gel, vapor evaporates out of the gel and the remaining liquid is frozen.
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Things You'll Need
- Silica gel packets
- Bunsen burner or stable open flame
- Digital thermometer
Instructions
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Place the silica gel packets in a humid environment to ensure the crystals absorb water vapor, as they are designed to do. Leave the packets in the bathroom while you shower, for example, so the silica gel absorbs the water vapor.
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Take the silica packets into a dry, stable environment. Put the packets in a small glass dish and place the dish above, not directly on top of, a Bunsen burner or a stable, open heat source such as the coil on a stove; place the packets 6 inches above the heat source.
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Expose the silica gel packets to a temperature of at least 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes to drive off the water vapors held by the silica crystals.
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Cut the silica gel packet open and pour it into a shallow dish; all the water vapor will have evaporated due to the heat, and the result will be the ice that has formed around the silica crystals.
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