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Phases of Matter

This document provides a complete list of the eight phase changes between the four states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. It describes each phase change, including melting (solid to liquid), freezing (liquid to solid), vaporization (liquid to gas), condensation (gas to liquid), deposition (gas to solid), sublimation (solid to gas), ionization (gas to plasma), and recombination (plasma to gas). The phase changes occur when temperature or pressure changes cause molecules to interact differently. Multiple phase changes can happen simultaneously.

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Marivic Miranda
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225 views5 pages

Phases of Matter

This document provides a complete list of the eight phase changes between the four states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. It describes each phase change, including melting (solid to liquid), freezing (liquid to solid), vaporization (liquid to gas), condensation (gas to liquid), deposition (gas to solid), sublimation (solid to gas), ionization (gas to plasma), and recombination (plasma to gas). The phase changes occur when temperature or pressure changes cause molecules to interact differently. Multiple phase changes can happen simultaneously.

Uploaded by

Marivic Miranda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Science, Tech, Math › Science

List of Phase Changes Between States of


Matter
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Flanker / Penubag / Public Domain

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byAnne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Updated August 19, 2019

Matter undergoes phase changes or phase transitions from one state of matter to
another. Below is a complete list of the names of these phase changes. The most
commonly known phase changes are those six between solids, liquids, and gasses.
However, plasma also is a state of matter, so a complete list requires all eight
total phase changes.

Why Do Phase Changes Occur?


Phase changes typically occur when the temperature or pressure of a system is
altered. When temperature or pressure increases, molecules interact more with
each other. When pressure increases or temperature decreases, it's easier for
atoms and molecules to settle into a more rigid structure. When pressure is
released, it's easier for particles to move away from each other.

For example, at normal atmospheric pressure, ice melts as the temperature


increases. If you held the temperature steady but lowered the pressure, eventually
you would reach a point where the ice would undergo sublimation directly to
water vapor.

01
of 08

Melting (Solid → Liquid)

Paul Taylor / Getty Images

This example shows an ice cube melting into water. Melting is the process by
which a substance changes from the solid phase to the liquid phase.

02
of 08

Freezing (Liquid → Solid)

Robert Kneschke / EyeEm / Getty Images

This example shows the freezing of sweetened cream into ice cream. Freezing is
the process through which a substance changes from a liquid to a solid. All
liquids except helium undergo freezing when the temperature becomes
sufficiently cold.

03
of 08

Vaporization (Liquid → Gas)

Jeremy Hudson / Getty Images


This image shows the vaporization of alcohol into its vapor. Vaporization,
or evaporation, is the process by which molecules undergo a spontaneous
transition from a liquid phase to a gas phase.

04
of 08

Condensation (Gas → Liquid)

Sirintra Pumsopa / Getty Images

This photo displays the process of condensation of water vapor into dew drops.
Condensation, the opposite of evaporation, is the change in the state of matter
from the gas phase to the liquid phase.

05
of 08

Deposition (Gas → Solid)

Olga Batishcheva / Getty Images

This image shows the deposition of silver vapor in a vacuum chamber onto a
surface to make a solid layer for a mirror. Deposition is the settling of particles or
sediment onto a surface. The particles may originate from a vapor, solution,
suspension, or mixture. Deposition also refers to the phase change from gas to
solid.

06
of 08

Sublimation (Solid → Gas)

RBOZUK / Getty Images

This example shows the sublimation of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) into carbon
dioxide gas. Sublimation is the transition from a solid phase to a gas phase
without passing through an intermediate liquid phase. Another example is when
ice directly transitions into water vapor on a cold, windy winter day.

07
of 08

Ionization (Gas → Plasma)

Oatpixels / Getty Images

This image captures the ionization of particles in the upper atmosphere to form
the aurora. Ionization may be observed inside a plasma ball novelty
toy. Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from a
gaseous atom or ion.

08
of 08

Recombination (Plasma → Gas)

artpartner-images / Getty Images

Turning off the power to a neon light allows the ionized particles to return to the
gas phase called recombination, the combining of charges or transfer of electrons
in a gas that results in the neutralization of ions, explains AskDefine.

Phase Changes of States of Matter


Another way to list phase changes is by states of matter:

Solids: Solids can melt into liquids or sublime into gases. Solids form by
deposition from gases or freezing of liquids.

Liquids: Liquids can vaporize into gases or freeze into solids. Liquids form by
condensation of gases and melting of solids.

Gases: Gases can ionize into plasma, condense into liquids, or undergo
deposition into solids. Gases form from the sublimation of solids, vaporization of
liquids, and recombination of plasma.
Plasma: Plasma can recombine to form a gas. Plasma most often forms from
ionization of a gas, although if sufficient energy and enough space are available,
it's presumably possible for a liquid or solid to ionize directly into a gas.

Phase changes aren't always clear when observing a situation. For example, if you
view the sublimation of dry ice into carbon dioxide gas, the white vapor that is
observed is mostly water that is condensing from water vapor in the air into fog
droplets.

Multiple phase changes can occur at once. For example, frozen nitrogen will form
both the liquid phase and the vapor phase when exposed to normal temperature
and pressure.

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