Sports teams always have instant cold packs stored in their first aid kits. Two chemicals are separated by a barrier inside the bag. Based on what you now know, explain how this cold pack gets cold without ice and what type of reaction is formed here?
Please help! I do not understand!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_cold_pack
THANK YOU!!! :D
You're welcome.
Sure, I'd be happy to help explain!
The cold packs you're referring to are known as "instant cold packs" or "chemical cold packs." They are used to provide immediate relief for injuries, particularly in sports where quick treatment is necessary.
Inside an instant cold pack, there are two separate chemicals that are kept apart by a barrier. Typically, one of the chemicals is ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and the other is water (H2O). Both chemicals are in a solid state, but ammonium nitrate is more soluble in water than the other way around.
When you squeeze or shake the cold pack, you break the barrier separating the two chemicals. This allows them to come into contact with each other, initiating a reaction called an endothermic reaction.
An endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that absorbs heat from its surroundings, resulting in a decrease in temperature. In this case, when ammonium nitrate and water combine, they undergo a reaction that absorbs heat from the environment, causing the temperature of the pack to drop.
The reaction can be represented symbolically as follows:
NH4NO3(s) + H2O(l) ➜ NH4NO3(aq)
In summary, the instant cold pack gets cold without the need for ice because of the endothermic reaction that occurs between the ammonium nitrate and water when they come into contact with each other.
I hope this explanation helps clarify how instant cold packs work! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know.