From: Eric Cordian <emc@wire.insync.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 12:18:04 +0800
To: cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
Subject: Re: Interesting Chemical Reaction
In-Reply-To: <199801280310.VAA21421@manifold.algebra.com>
Message-ID: <199801280413.WAA08034@wire.insync.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



Igor writes:

> An interesting experiment is to mix the ordinary ammonium nitrate
> (a fertilizer) with room temp. water. Try to put in as much ammonium
> nitrate as it is possible to dissolve.

> You will see the temperature of the mixture DROP to below the freezing
> point (for pure water that is).

> Wow. I did that 12 years ago and was amazed. A really easy way to get
> cold water if no freezer is available.

And for those who may think that endothermic reactions violate some basic
law about entropy always increasing, I should point out that the increase
in entropy from the uniform mixing of two different materials can more
than compensate for the decrease in temperature.  Ain't science wonderful? 

-- 
Eric Michael Cordian 0+
O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division
"Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"