Why does dry ice smoke?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: CO2 gas condenses water vapor
CO2 gas condenses water vapor ✓ — Correct! Dry ice (-78°C) sublimates directly into cold CO2 gas. This extremely cold gas makes nearby water vapor condense into tiny droplets—that's the fog you see! The 'smoke' is actually condensed water vapor, not CO2 itself.
Cold air becomes visible — Wrong. Air doesn't become visible. The fog is water vapor condensing due to the extreme cold.
Frozen smoke is released — Wrong. There's no frozen smoke inside. The visible fog forms when cold CO2 condenses moisture from air.