In the current frigid conditions, certain regions commonly experience sub-zero temperatures. The extreme weather causes nearly everything, particularly liquids, to freeze solid. A video showcasing this phenomenon has gone viral on Instagram, illustrating the rapid transformation of water into ice. The video begins with an individual holding a bottle of water, only to shake it once, causing the entire contents to solidify into ice. The caption accompanying the post humorously reads, “I could watch this all day.”
The footage has gained significant attention, garnering 80500 views and over 4000 likes on the social media platform. The comments under the video reflect an audience that is clearly astounded by the demonstration.
Among the numerous comments flooding the post, one user drew a playful parallel to the animated series Frozen, jokingly stating, “Bro is Frozen in real life.”
Another encouraged others to try the trick, commenting, “Love this trick!! It’s really fun to do if you ever wanna try it.”
Meanwhile, a comment attributing the phenomenon to Canada humorously asserted, “Only in Canada.”
As the video sparked curiosity among viewers, many inquired about the science behind the magical transformation. Several users graciously provided explanations, shedding light on the intriguing process.
Exploring the scientific aspect, the water in the bottle is revealed to be supercooled. A supercooled liquid exists when the temperature is below its normal freezing point, yet the liquid remains unfrozen. The transformation from liquid to solid requires a trigger, a catalyst encouraging liquid molecules to assemble in a regular pattern, forming a crystal instead of maintaining fluidity.
This process is called nucleation in scientific terms. Here’s how it works: the molecules in the water come together to create a nucleus that looks like a tiny crystal. Once this nucleus forms, more molecules stick to it, kick starting the process of turning the liquid into a crystal (ice). Several things can trigger nucleation, such as tiny particles like dust that the molecules latch onto, or bumps on the bottle’s surface. Interestingly, even the shockwave from tapping a bottle that’s just come out of the freezer against a table can trigger nucleation and make the water freeze.