trippelpunktet

Trippelpunktet is a term used in chemistry and physics to describe the specific temperature and pressure at which the three distinct phases of a substance – solid, liquid, and gas – can coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium. At any other combination of temperature and pressure, only one or two of these phases will be present. The triple point is a unique characteristic of each substance, meaning it is the same for all samples of that pure substance under standard conditions.

The concept is crucial for understanding phase transitions and is often used as a reference point in calibration. For example, the triple point of water is defined as 273.16 Kelvin (0.01 degrees Celsius) and a pressure of 611.657 Pascals. This specific set of conditions allows ice, liquid water, and water vapor to exist simultaneously. Because it is a precisely defined point, it serves as an excellent standard for calibrating thermometers. By comparing the behavior of a thermometer at the triple point of a known substance to its expected reading, its accuracy can be verified. The existence of a triple point is a consequence of the phase diagram of a substance, which graphically represents the stable phases as a function of temperature and pressure.