jäätymispistettä

Jäätymispiste, also known as freezing point, refers to the temperature at which a liquid transitions into a solid state. This is a fundamental physical property of substances and is dependent on the specific material. For pure water at standard atmospheric pressure, the freezing point is 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). However, the presence of solutes, such as salt or sugar, can significantly lower the freezing point of a liquid. This phenomenon is called freezing point depression and is a colligative property, meaning it depends on the concentration of the solute particles rather than their identity.

The process of freezing involves the molecules of the liquid losing kinetic energy and arranging themselves into a more ordered crystalline structure. The rate of cooling also plays a role; rapid cooling can sometimes lead to supercooling, where the liquid remains in a liquid state below its normal freezing point. At the freezing point, the liquid and solid phases of a substance can coexist in equilibrium. Understanding freezing points is crucial in various applications, including weather forecasting, food preservation, and the development of antifreeze for vehicles.