What happens when liquid nitrogen gets struck by lightning?

Question

Would it explode? Or melt or...what?

Answer 1

It would explode because of the extreme temperature differences.

If you took liquid nitrogen it would boil rapidly at room temperature.  If it were struck by lightning it would explode.  It's like throwing ice in lava.

Answer 2

Mind you, gaseous nitrogen has a much, much greater volume than liquid nitrogen , and changing states very quickly en masse would cause a sudden increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner that would likely cause a shock wave.

This is known as a BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion). So yes, it would in every sense of the word be an explosion.

Answer 3

Is it out in the open or in a Dewars Flask? My vote is for the old mans answer.

Answer 4

Nitrogen in it's natural state is an inert gas, meaning that it is not flammable so it would not explode under any circumstances.

In its cryogenic state, approximatly -289 degrees, it is a liquid. Most liquids do not melt.

If a container filled with liquid nitrogen were to get struck by lightning the massive amount of heat generated by the lightning would cause it to rapidly evaporate to its gaseous form.