Phase Changes

 Matter exists in three physical states:

 Solid
 Liquid
 Gas

 When matter is converted from one physical

state to another, a phase change occurs.
 A change in the physical state of a
substance
 Phase Changes

 You should know what

phase change occurs
for each of the
following:
 Melting
 Freezing
 Vaporization
 Condensation
 Sublimation
 Deposition
 Phase Changes
 Melting:
 Solid  Liquid
 endothermic

 Freezing:
 Liquid  Solid
 exothermic

 Vaporization
 Liquid  Gas
 endothermic

 Condensation
 Gas  Liquid
 exothermic
 Phase Changes
 Sublimation
 Solid  Gas
 endothermic

 Deposition
 Gas  Solid
 exothermic
 Phase Changes
 In order for a phase change to occur, the
molecules must gain enough kinetic energy to
overcome the intermolecular forces between
the molecules.

 As the strength of the IMF increases,

more energy is needed for a phase
change to occur.

 Higher boiling point and higher melting

point occur.
 Phase Changes & Heating Curves
 During a phase change, the two phases exist
in equilibrium.
 At the melting point, solid and liquid phases
are in equilibrium.
 At the boiling point, liquid and gas phases
are in equilibrium.

 The heat added to the system at the melting

point and boiling point goes into pulling the
molecules further apart from each other (i.e.
overcoming the intermolecular forces).
 Phase Changes & Heating Curves

 During a phase change

the temperature of
the substance is
constant.

 The temperature does

not increase until the
phase change is
complete.
A heating/cooling
curve for water
 Phase Changes & Heating Curves
 A general heating or cooling curve for a solid below the
MP being converted to a gas above the boiling point:
(g, Tf)
Cgas
Hvap
(l, BP) (g, BP)

Cliq

(s, MP) Hfus (l, MP)

Csolid
(s, Ti)
 Phase Changes and Phase Diagrams
 Dynamic equilibria can exist between other
states of matter.

 A phase diagram for a substance illustrates:

 its physical state at various T and P
 the equilibria that exist between phases
 Phase Changes and Phase Diagrams
 The AB line is the liquid-vapor interface.

 It starts above the triple point (A)

 the point at which all three states are in
equilibrium.
 Phase Changes and Phase Diagrams
 It ends just below the critical point (B);
 the temperature (critical temperature) and
pressure (critical pressure) above which the
liquid and vapor are indistinguishable from
each other
 Phase Changes and Phase Diagrams
 Each point along this line (EXCEPT THE
CRITICAL POINT or TRIPLE POINT) is the
boiling point of the substance at that
pressure.
 Phase Changes and Phase Diagrams
 The AD line is the interface between liquid
and solid.
 The melting point at each pressure can be
found along this line (excluding the triple
point).
 Phase Changes and Phase Diagrams
 Below A the substance cannot exist in the
liquid state.
 Along the AC line the solid and gas phases
are in equilibrium
 The sublimation point at each pressure is
along this line (excluding the triple point).
 Phase Diagrams
• a phase diagram shows the equilibria pressure-
temperature relationship among the different
phases of a given substance
 WATER Carbon Dioxide

AB = AC = AD =
 C

melting AD =
AB = AC =
curve
 C

melting sublimation AD =
AB = AC =
curve curve
 C

vapor
melting sublimation AD = pressure
AB = AC =
curve curve curve
 C

A
triple point = Point ______
The point at which all 3 phases of a substance (solid, liquid, gas) can
coexist at equilibrium.
D
critical point = Point ______
The combination of critical temperature and critical pressure.

critical temp = temp. above which a gas cannot be liquefied. (H2O=374ºC)

critical pressure = press. required to liquefy a gas at its critical temperature. (H2O=218
atm)
 Phase Changes and Phase Diagrams
Example: Given the phase diagram for water,
which point represents:
 the normal boiling point of water

 the normal melting point of water

 the critical point of water

 the triple point of water

 Phase Changes and Phase Diagrams
Example: Given the phase diagram for carbon
dioxide, which line represents the equilibrium
between:
 Solid and liquid?

Liquid and gas?

Solid and gas?