Phase Change Basics Quiz

Study Notes

The triple point is where a substance exists as a solid, liquid, and gas simultaneously. Each substance has its unique triple point.
The critical point is where the boundary between liquid and gas disappears, and a substance becomes a supercritical liquid at a specific temperature and pressure.
A phase diagram helps predict the phase of a substance based on temperature and pressure.
Solids have a definite shape and become liquids when heat energy increases or pressure decreases in a process called melting or liquefaction.
Liquids become gases (vapor) when they reach a certain energy level, and this process is called boiling.
Plasma is a state of matter consisting of positive ions and free electrons. It is less common on Earth than other phases, but it is prevalent in the universe.
Phase change examples: Solids turning into liquids (melting or liquefaction), liquids turning into gases (boiling), gases turning into solids (condensation or deposition), and solids turning directly into gases (sublimation).
Deposition is a phase change where a gas turns into a solid, skipping the liquid phase.
Condensation is the opposite of vaporization. Water vapor turns into liquid water when it loses energy and cannot maintain its gaseous state.
Evaporation is the process where a liquid turns into a gas. It can occur via boiling or simply by molecules gaining enough energy to escape the liquid surface.
Sublimation is a phase change where a solid goes directly into a gas, skipping the liquid stage. This occurs with substances like dry ice and carbon dioxide.