liquid nitrogen

chemistry

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July 23, 2026

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Liquid nitrogen is a form of nitrogen that has been cooled to a liquid state. It is a faintly bluish, transparent, and mobile liquid that is intensely cold. Nitrogen is a colorless gas at room temperature and is a major component of air.1

Cryogenics is the study and application of extremely low-temperature phenomena. The cryogenic temperature range is defined as being between -150 °C (-238 °F) and absolute zero (-273 °C or -460 °F). At these extreme temperatures, material properties like strength, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistance are significantly altered.2

Liquid nitrogen has various applications, including as a refrigerant and in cryosurgery for freezing and removing unhealthy tissue. It is also used in the preservation of food and in the propulsion systems of space vehicles.21

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food preservation
Industrial freezers
…moved through a spray of liquid nitrogen or directly immersed in liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen boils around the food at a temperature of −196 °C (−321 °F) and extracts a large amount of heat.
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…moved through a spray of liquid nitrogen or directly immersed in liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen boils around the food at a temperature of −196 °C (−321 °F) and extracts a large amount of heat.
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cryonics
…in a chamber filled with liquid nitrogen, where it will theoretically stay preserved at -196 °C until scientists are able to find a way to resuscitate the body in the future.
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…in a chamber filled with liquid nitrogen, where it will theoretically stay preserved at -196 °C until scientists are able to find a way to resuscitate the body in the future.
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cluster
…such as liquid air or liquid nitrogen, are made up of molecules whose properties differ only slightly from the properties of the same molecules in gaseous form; such solids or liquids are simply molecules packed tightly enough to be in constant contact. These are called van der Waals solids or…
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…such as liquid air or liquid nitrogen, are made up of molecules whose properties differ only slightly from the properties of the same molecules in gaseous form; such solids or liquids are simply molecules packed tightly enough to be in constant contact. These are called van der Waals solids or…
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