supergekühlter

Supergekühlter is a German term that translates to "supercooled." It refers to a liquid that has been cooled below its freezing point without solidifying. This state is achieved when the liquid is pure and free from impurities that could act as nucleation sites, providing a surface for ice crystals to form. Without these nucleation sites, the molecules in the liquid lack the necessary structure or impetus to arrange themselves into a solid lattice.

Supercooled liquids are inherently unstable. Any disturbance, such as shaking the liquid, introducing a solid particle, or even a significant temperature fluctuation, can trigger rapid crystallization. This phenomenon is often demonstrated by pouring supercooled water onto a surface, where it instantly freezes into ice.

Supercooling is a common occurrence in nature, particularly in the atmosphere. Water droplets in clouds can remain in a liquid state even at temperatures well below 0 degrees Celsius. When these supercooled droplets come into contact with aircraft, they can freeze rapidly, forming ice on the wings and potentially affecting flight safety. Understanding supercooling is important in fields such as meteorology, materials science, and food preservation.