vaihemuunnokseen

Vaihemuunnos (phase transition) refers to a physical process where a substance changes from one state of matter to another. These changes are typically driven by variations in temperature and pressure. The most common examples include melting, where a solid transforms into a liquid, and boiling, where a liquid becomes a gas. Conversely, freezing describes the transition from liquid to solid, and condensation is the change from gas to liquid. Sublimation is another type of phase transition where a solid directly changes into a gas without passing through the liquid phase, such as dry ice turning into carbon dioxide gas. The reverse of sublimation is deposition, where a gas directly becomes a solid.

During a phase transition, the substance absorbs or releases energy, known as latent heat, without a change in temperature. For instance, when ice melts into water at 0 degrees Celsius, it requires energy input, but the temperature remains constant until all the ice has melted. Similarly, boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius requires continuous heat addition, yet the temperature stays at 100 degrees Celsius. Phase transitions are fundamental phenomena in physics and chemistry, playing crucial roles in various natural processes and technological applications, from weather patterns to industrial manufacturing. Understanding these transitions is vital for predicting and controlling the behavior of materials under different conditions.