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The chemistry of cold packs - John Pollard

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If you stick water in the freezer, it will take a few hours to freeze into ice. How is it, then, that cold packs go from room temperature to near freezing in mere seconds? John Pollard details the chemistry of the cold pack, shedding light on the concepts of energetics and entropy along the way.

There are some solids that do not dissolve in water despite the fact that the interactions are stronger if they are dissolved. Build an explanation based on entropy for why these substances do not dissolve.

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator John Pollard
  • Animator Henry Chung, Mark Storer, Noel Wong, Michael Field
  • Compositor Ricky Earl
  • Artist Ieuan Protheroe
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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