Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid phase to the gas phase

without passing through the intermediate liquid phase

ublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing
through the liquid state.Sublimation is an endothermic process that occurs at temperatures and
pressures below a substance's triple point in its phase diagram, which corresponds to the lowest
pressure at which the substance can exist as a liquid. The reverse process of sublimation is
deposition or desublimation, in which a substance passes directly from a gas to a solid phase.[3]
Sublimation has also been used as a generic term to describe a solid-to-gas transition (sublimation)
followed by a gas-to-solid transition (deposition).While vaporization from liquid to gas occurs as
evaporation from the surface if it occurs below the boiling point of the liquid, and as boiling with
formation of bubbles in the interior of the liquid if it occurs at the boiling point, there is no such
distinction for the solid-to-gas transition which always occurs as sublimation from the surface.
At normal pressures, most chemical compounds and elements possess three different states at
different temperatures. In these cases, the transition from the solid to the gaseous state requires an
intermediate liquid state. The pressure referred to is the partial pressure of the substance, not the
total (e.g. atmospheric) pressure of the entire system. Thus, any solid can sublimate if its vapour
pressure is higher than the surrounding partial pressure of the same substance, and in some cases
sublimates at an appreciable rate (e.g. water ice just below 0 °C). For some substances, such as
carbon and arsenic, sublimation is much easier than evaporation from the melt, because the pressure
of their triple point is very high, and it is difficult to obtain them as liquids.
The term sublimation refers to a physical change of state and is not used to describe the
transformation of a solid to a gas in a chemical reaction. For example, the dissociation on heating of
solid ammonium chloride into hydrogen chloride and ammonia is not sublimation but a chemical
reaction. Similarly the combustion of candles, containing paraffin wax, to carbon dioxide and water
vapor is not sublimation but a chemical reaction with oxygen.
Sublimation is caused by the absorption of heat which provides enough energy for some molecules
to overcome the attractive forces of their neighbors and escape into the vapor phase. Since the
process requires additional energy, it is an endothermic change. The enthalpy of sublimation (also
called heat of sublimation) can be calculated by adding the enthalpy of fusion and the enthalpy of
vaporization.

Process of Sublimation
When some molecules absorb heat energy, they are at a much higher energy state than their
neighbours, hence overcoming the force of attraction and therefore escape into the vapour phase. It
is called an endothermic reaction because of the additional energy required. Then sublimation is
defined as heat or energy required to change the state from solid to gas. It is expressed as KJmol
or even KJkg .
TECHNIQUE FOR SUBLIMATION
A crude, but efficient sublimation apparatus can be made from of a filter flask, where the side neck
is connected to an aspirator or vacuum trap, and the neck is equipped with a cold finger (a tube with
ice water, or other cooling material). The impure solids are placed in the bottom of the filter flask,
and the cold finger is inserted. While an aspirator or pump is reducing the pressure inside the filter
flask, the material is carefully heated on a hot plate (take care to avoid melting or boiling the
material). The organic compound will start to sublime forming a gas. Once this gas reaches the cold
finger, it will immediately crystallize on the cold finger, where it can be collected.

Examples of Sublimation
One of the best examples of sublimation is dry ice, the frozen form of carbon dioxide. There is a
direct change of phase of dry ice, from solid-state to gaseous state, when dry ice is exposed to air. It
is visible as fog. The gaseous state of frozen carbon dioxide is more stable than its solid-state.
his technique is also in use in pharmaceutical companies. After the removal of water from the
material, it is being stored in a vessel and thus the material is easily stored and shipped to different
locations. It can be brought back to its original form at the destination. Measles virus vaccine,
typhoid vaccine are examples of such products. This technique is also useful in manufacturing raw
materials for pharmaceutical products.
Purification by sublimation

Crystals of ferrocene after purification by vacuum sublimation

Sublimation is a technique used by chemists to purify compounds. A solid is typically placed in a
sublimation apparatus and heated under vacuum. Under this reduced pressure, the solid volatilizes
and condenses as a purified compound on a cooled surface (cold finger), leaving a non-volatile
residue of impurities behind. Once heating ceases and the vacuum is removed, the purified
compound may be collected from the cooling surface. [10] [11] For even higher purification
efficiencies, a temperature gradient is applied, which also allows for the separation of different
fractions. Typical setups use an evacuated glass tube that is heated gradually in a controlled manner.
The material flow is from the hot end, where the initial material is placed, to the cold end that is
connected to a pump stand. By controlling temperatures along the length of the tube, the operator
can control the zones of re-condensation, with very volatile compounds being pumped out of the
system completely (or caught by a separate cold trap), moderately volatile compounds recondensing
along the tube according to their different volatilities, and non-volatile compounds remaining in the
hot end. Vacuum sublimation of this type is also the method of choice for purification of organic
compounds for use in the organic electronics industry, where very high purities (often > 99.99%)
are needed to satisfy the standards for consumer electronics and other applications
APPLICATIONS
A use of sublimation is in the frozen food industry. This is called freeze-drying. The frozen water in
the material will sublimate from the solid phase to the gas phase when you reduce the surrounding
pressure. There is no heat involved in the removal of the water, so this is different from evaporation.
Since it uses very low temperatures, it results in a high-quality product. The shape of the product is
also retained and once the product is rehydrated it has excellent quality. This technique is used when
the foodstuff is to be preserved for a longer period or when astronauts go out to outer space, NASA
could provide quality food using this technique
. Pharmaceutical companies also use this technique. Once the water is removed from the material
and is stored in a vessel, the material can be easily stored, and shipped to other locations. In the
destination, it can be reconstituted to its original form. Examples of such products are the Measles
virus vaccine, Typhoid Vaccine among others. It is also used for manufacturing the raw material for
pharmaceutical products.