why is it that dry ice doesn't turn to liquid...instead it turns to gas???

Answer 1

This is called sublimation. At sufficiently low pressures, a solid sample of certain substances will absorb energy and undergo a phase change directly from solid to gas. This can occur only at pressures below the triple point of the substance. Dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide (CO2), is a well known example of this; substances that are gases at room temperature have very high triple point pressures, so atmospheric pressure is well below the maximum pressure to observe sublimation.

Answer 2

Both of what the first two said. It's a process called sublimation. Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2).
CO2 needs plenty of pressure and the right temperature to be a liquid, and room temperature and atmosphere pressure just won't do it!

Different chemical compositions need different amounts of temp and pressure, ie water can be boiled at 70degrees celcius on mount everest because of the loss of pressure. If the pressure was lessened a hell of a lot more it would also sublimate.

As to why it does it in physic terms its all to do with dispersion forces and how much each molecule has. Try this link and it will tell you the details (if you want to learn the specifics)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_der_Waals_force

Answer 3

dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide where the liquid state is so brief that it cannot be seen this is called Sublimation
see address below for all info ;

Answer 4

Unlike water, which passes its solid point and becomes molten, dry ice sublimes, changing directly to a gas. Its sublimation and deposition point is -78.5 °C (-109.3 °F). Its enthalpy of sublimation (ΔHsub) @ -78.5 °C (-109.3 °F) is 199.0 kJ/kg (245.5 BTU/lb). The low temperature and direct sublimation to a gas makes dry ice a very effective coolant, since it is colder than ice and leaves no moisture as it changes state....

Answer 5

Because CO2 requires great pressures to liquefy.

Answer 6

i dont know but i like to put in punch and make it all bubbly :P

Answer 7

because it is not water its carbon dioxide