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In physics, chemistry, and other related fields like biology, a phase transition (or phase change) is the physical process of transition between one state of a medium and another. Commonly the term is used to refer to changes among the basic states of matter : solid , liquid , and gas , and in rare cases, plasma .
A state of matter is also characterized by phase transitions. A phase transition indicates a change in structure and can be recognized by an abrupt change in properties. A distinct state of matter can be defined as any set of states distinguished from any other set of states by a phase transition.
Transition state structures can be determined by searching for first-order saddle points on the potential energy surface (PES) of the chemical species of interest. [4] A first-order saddle point is a critical point of index one, that is, a position on the PES corresponding to a minimum in all directions except one.
Catalysts are substances that make weak bonds with reactants or intermediates and change the pathway (mechanism) of a reaction which in turn increases the speed of a reaction by lowering the activation energy needed for the reaction to take place. A catalyst is not destroyed or changed during a reaction, so it can be used again.
In a two state system, there will be three wells; a well for state A, an upside-down well representing the potential energy barrier, and a well for state B. In the overdamped (or "diffusive") regime, the transition rate from state A to B is related to the resonant frequency of the wells via
Again, the molecules do not go through an intermediate liquid state when going from the gas to the solid. See also physical vapor deposition, which is a class of processes used to deposit thin films of various materials onto various surfaces. Deposition releases energy and is an exothermic phase change.
Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state. [1] The verb form of sublimation is sublime, or less preferably, sublimate. [2] Sublimate also refers to the product obtained by sublimation.
When a substance undergoes a phase transition (changes from one state of matter to another) it usually either takes up or releases energy. For example, when water evaporates, the increase in kinetic energy as the evaporating molecules escape the attractive forces of the liquid is reflected in a decrease in temperature.