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In physics, chemistry, and other related fields like biology, a phase transition (or phase change) is the physical process of transition between one state of a medium and another. Commonly the term is used to refer to changes among the basic states of matter : solid , liquid , and gas , and in rare cases, plasma .
A physical change involves a change in physical properties. Examples of physical properties include melting, transition to a gas, change of strength, change of durability, changes to crystal form, textural change, shape, size, color, volume and density. An example of a physical change is the process of tempering steel to
A phase transition indicates a change in structure and can be recognized by an abrupt change in properties. A distinct state of matter can be defined as any set of states distinguished from any other set of states by a phase transition. Water can be said to have several distinct solid states. [7]
Also acid ionization constant or acidity constant. A quantitative measure of the strength of an acid in solution expressed as an equilibrium constant for a chemical dissociation reaction in the context of acid-base reactions. It is often given as its base-10 cologarithm, p K a. acid–base extraction A chemical reaction in which chemical species are separated from other acids and bases. acid ...
The density of water is approximately 1g/mL whether you consider a drop of water or a swimming pool, but the mass is different in the two cases. Dividing one extensive property by another extensive property gives an intensive property—for example: mass (extensive) divided by volume (extensive) gives density (intensive).
The region of rapid density change is known as the pycnocline, and it acts as a barrier to vertical water circulation; thus it also affects the vertical distribution of certain chemicals which play a role in the biology of the seas. The sharp gradients in temperature and density also may act as a restriction to vertical movements of animals. [6]
[1] [2]: 86 [3]: 3 Examples of physical properties include density, index of refraction, magnetization and chemical composition. The term phase is sometimes used as a synonym for state of matter , but there can be several immiscible phases of the same state of matter (as where oil and water separate into distinct phases, both in the liquid state).
Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is a substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ (the lower case Greek letter rho ), although the Latin letter D can also be used.