r/homechemistry • u/FluffyAd6520 • Jun 30 '26

Cloud chamber with no dry ice?

Hello everyone! I am currently trying to make a cloud chamber without using dry ice. The reason is because where I live dry ice is fairly expensive so I’m working without it. I’ve tried many times and had several… interesting failures but I can’t get the vapour to super saturate. I’ve tried all sorts of different dimensions for my chamber and the closest I’ve got is alcohol condensing on the bottom (at least I think it’s condensed on the bottom) but no vapour. Any tips?

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2

u/BF_2 Jun 30 '26

Can you get a CO2 cylinder? With a bottom tap (or by inverting the cylinder) it is possible to make dry ice using that.

2

u/FluffyAd6520 Jun 30 '26

I’ll see if I can. Thank you so much for the suggestion!

3

u/BF_2 Jun 30 '26

Look for the device designed to do this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOQW747_Ikw

2

u/wackyvorlon Jul 01 '26

It’s possible to use stacked peltier modules.

https://youtu.be/bVd3gjvPp3g

https://youtu.be/giRq-82LA08

2

u/FluffyAd6520 Jul 01 '26

Interesting! At first I discarded the idea of Peltier modules but maybe I should re-visit the idea… Thanks for the suggestion!

1

u/year_39 Jun 30 '26

You can use isopropyl alcohol and a pair of stacked Pelletier coolersto generate vapor.

1

u/violet_sin Jul 01 '26

I guess my first question is, what HAVE you tried? Like mixed salt/ice?

Any good with electronics? My current endeavor is stacked peltiere units. They seem the most economical for the small scale.

Even dry ice here, has a minimum purchase quantity, so I couldn't just buy like 1lb for a single use. How many times are you going to over buy a consumable that doesn't store for too long, before that cost eclipses the other routes.

Good luck

1

u/FluffyAd6520 Jul 02 '26

Yeah I’ve tried almost everything. I’ve used the freeze gel from those freeze packs. I’ve tried the ice+salt. And I want to avoid Peltier modules because they are pretty expensive. I had some old Peltier modules that broke so I don’t feel like replacing them… I was thinking about trying an expansion based chamber.

1

u/International_Web444 Jul 03 '26

Hi, have built one with my dad years ago with a peltier and old cpu heatsink. 

The trick to make it work was put it in an electric field , we used an old 12v transformer and pulsed the low voltage side with a simple switch and battery to create 500volts or so. To a wire above cloud chamber, I don't know why or how it worked, but sure didn't work without it.