Is It Safe to Put Your Hand in Liquid Nitrogen: Risks and Misconceptions
After graduating in 1979, I began my career as an embryo transfer and artificial insemination (AI) technician. Part of the job included working with liquid nitrogen (LN2), which we stored in a pressurized tank and large insulated containers. One day, a colleague demonstrated the incredible temperature of LN2 by dipping a plastic hose in the liquid, quickly pulling it out, and smashing it against the floor—it shattered like glass. This was followed by enjoying a cold beer, with the lower half freezing solid due to the extreme cold. Frogs and mice could freeze solid within a few minutes, and I could only dip my fingers a few seconds before experiencing the pain of freeze burns. This experience made me realize the dangers and reinforced my caution.
Risk of Injury
According to my high school science teacher, a rubber hose filled with liquid nitrogen and slammed into the counter would shatter similarly to glass. On a personal note, I suffer from skin cancer, which has worsened over the years. The regular treatments, which involve significant pain and the formation of blisters, are quite traumatic. This further strengthens my belief in the importance of avoiding such risks.
Personal Experiences with Liquid Nitrogen
During my studies, I was exposed to liquid nitrogen on numerous occasions. Curiosity inevitably led to a few experiments. One time, I attempted to immerse my hand into liquid nitrogen. As the temperature of my hand (about 37°C) is far above the boiling point of nitrogen (-196°C), the liquid nitrogen immediately vaporized upon contact, creating a cold and turbulent air sensation. Notably, very little liquid nitrogen remained in direct contact with my skin, reducing the risk of freeze burns. However, the biggest risk lay in touching anything solid that had been chilled by the liquid nitrogen. Once, I tried to eat a peach that I had frozen in liquid nitrogen; the extreme cold immediately adhered my tongue and cheeks to the fruit. This predicament only resolved once I swilled some water to dislodge the frozen fruit.
Despite these experiences, I strongly advise against putting your hand in liquid nitrogen. If someone dares to do so, they are risking terrible injuries. The other hand may need to be severed to extract eyeballs to protect the remaining hand from further damage.
Conclusion
Handling liquid nitrogen requires extreme caution due to its extremely low temperature. While some experiments may seem harmless, the potential for skin injuries and long-term health consequences are significant. Always adhere to safety guidelines and respect the dangers of liquid nitrogen.