What is dry ice?

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide ($CO_{2}$). It gets its name because it does not melt into a liquid when heated; instead, it changes directly from a solid to a gas.Key Characteristics of Dry IceSublimation: This is the most unique property of dry ice. At standard atmospheric pressure, it skips the liquid phase entirely. This process is called sublimation.Temperature: It is extremely cold, with a surface temperature of approximately -78.5°C (-109.3°F).Appearance: It looks like regular water ice or snow, but as it "melts," it produces a thick, white fog. This fog is actually a mixture of invisible $CO_{2}$ gas and tiny water droplets condensed from the moisture in the surrounding air.Uses: Because it stays dry and is intensely cold, it is used for preserving food during shipping, biological samples, and creating "smoke" effects in theaters or at parties.