GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
Quarter 3: Lesson 3
Phase Change and Heat Energy
A Phase Diagram is a graphical representation of a substance's physical state under different
temperature and pressure conditions. It gives the possible combinations of pressure and
temperature at which a certain physical state or state of a substance would be observed. Each
substance has its phase diagram.
Phase Diagram of Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide is a gas at standard conditions. However,
at low temperatures and/or high pressures, it becomes a liquid or a solid.
is a specific temperature and
pressure at which a substance
can no longer exist as a
distinct liquid or gas
is a unique condition of temperature and pressure where three phases of a
substance (solid, liquid, and gas) coexist in perfect equilibrium.
The phase diagram for carbon dioxide shows the phase behavior with changes in temperature
and pressure. The curve between the critical point and the triple point shows the carbon dioxide
boiling point with changes in pressure. The curve between the triple point downwards to zero
pressure shows the sublimation point with changes in pressure (Sublimation: transformation from
solid phase directly to gas phase). Carbon dioxide in the solid phase is called dry ice.
At the critical point, there is no change of state when pressure is increased or if heat is added.
The triple point of a substance is the temperature and pressure at which the three phases (gas, liquid,
and solid) of that substance coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium.
Phase Diagram of Water - is a unique substance in many ways. One of these special properties
is the fact that solid water (ice) is less dense than liquid water just above the freezing point. The phase
diagram for water is shown in the Figure below.
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In the water’s diagram, the slope of the line between the solid and liquid states is negative
rather than positive. The reason is that water is an unusual substance in that its solid state is less
dense than the liquid state. Ice floats in liquid water. Therefore, a pressure change has the opposite
effect on those two phases. If ice is relatively near its melting point, it can be changed into liquid
water by the application of pressure. The water molecules are closer together in the liquid phase
than they are in the solid phase.
Refer again to the water’s phase diagram (Figure above). Notice point E is labeled the critical
point. This means that at 373.99°C, particles of water in the gas phase are moving very rapidly. At
any temperature higher than that, the gas phase cannot be made to liquefy, no matter how much
pressure is applied to the gas. The critical pressure (P c) is the pressure that must be applied to the
gas at the critical temperature to turn it into a liquid. For water, the critical pressure is considered
very high given the value of 217.75 atm. The critical point is the intersection point of the critical
temperature and the critical pressure.
Heating or Cooling curve
A heating or cooling curve is a simple line graph that shows the phase changes a given
substance undergoes with increasing or decreasing temperature. This curve shows how phase
change occurs when heat is added or removed from a substance. Wherein a certain substance is
heated, the added energy is used by the substance in either of two ways, one is that the added heat
increases the kinetic energy of the particles and the particles move faster.
Thus, the increase in kinetic energy is accompanied by an increase in temperature. Another is
that the added heat is used to break attractive forces between particles. There is no observed
increase in temperature when this happens and it is often a change in the physical appearance of
the substance is observed, such as a phase change. Thus, we could also say that the removal or
release of heat results in a decrease in the kinetic energy of the particles a force of attraction is
formed, and a phase change may occur again.
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How does a change in energy affect phase changes?
- Phase changes occur when heat is added or removed from a substance.
When a substance is heated, the added energy is used by the substance in either of two ways:
A) The added heat increases the kinetic energy of the particles and the particles move faster. The
increase in kinetic energy is accompanied by an increase in temperature.
B) The added heat is used to break attractive forces between particles. There is no observed
increase in temperature when this happens. Often a change in the physical appearance of the
substance is observed, such as a phase change.
The removal or release of heat results in two ways:
A) A decrease in the kinetic energy of the particles. The motion of the particles slows down. A decrease in
temperature is observed.
B) Forces of attraction are formed, and a phase change may occur. No change in temperature is observed.
*Disclaimer: The material used in this is purely for educational purposes only no copyright infringement is intended. All
rights go to their respective owners.
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