Unterkühlt

Unterkühlt refers to a state where a liquid is cooled below its freezing point without solidifying. This condition is also known as supercooling. In a supercooled liquid, the molecules lack the necessary nucleation sites or sufficient kinetic energy to initiate the formation of a solid crystal lattice. Commonly, water can be supercooled to temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) if it is pure and free from suspended particles.

The transition from a supercooled state to a solid state can be triggered by external disturbances. Introducing a seed crystal, a shock, or even agitation can provide the nucleation sites needed for rapid solidification to occur. This phenomenon is observed in various contexts, including atmospheric science where it plays a role in cloud formation and precipitation, and in laboratory settings for specific crystallization processes. Understanding unterkühlt conditions is crucial for applications ranging from food preservation to the study of phase transitions.