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States of Matter & Gas Laws

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States of Matter & Gas Laws

Absolute Zero

The lowest possible temperature, at which particles retain only their irreducible quantum zero-point motion.

0 K = −273.15 °C K
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Amorphous Solid

A solid whose particles lack long-range order, showing only the short-range regularity characteristic of a frozen liquid.

Dimensionless
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Anisotropy

The dependence of a physical property on the direction in which it is measured.

Dimensionless
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Average Kinetic Energy

The mean translational kinetic energy of the particles in a sample, dependent only on absolute temperature.

KE = (3/2)kT per molecule J
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Avogadro's Law

Equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal numbers of molecules.

V ∝ n L/mol
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Body-Centred Cubic

A cubic arrangement with particles at the eight corners plus one at the centre of the cell.

2 atoms per cell, 68% packing Dimensionless
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Boiling Point

The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid equals the external pressure acting on it.

p_vap = p_external °C
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Boyle's Law

At constant temperature, the volume of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its pressure.

p₁V₁ = p₂V₂ Pa·m³
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Capillary Action

The spontaneous rise or fall of a liquid in a narrow tube, driven by the balance between adhesion and cohesion.

h = 2γcosθ / ρgr m
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Charles's Law

At constant pressure, the volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature.

V₁ / T₁ = V₂ / T₂ m³/K
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Combined Gas Law

The relation linking pressure, volume and temperature for a fixed amount of gas undergoing a change of state.

p₁V₁ / T₁ = p₂V₂ / T₂ Various
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Compressibility Factor

The ratio of the actual molar volume of a gas to that predicted by the ideal gas law.

Z = pV / nRT Dimensionless
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Condensation

The change of a substance from the gaseous to the liquid state, accompanied by the release of latent heat.

kJ/mol
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Critical Point

The unique combination of temperature and pressure at which the liquid and gas phases of a substance become indistinguishable.

(T_c, p_c) K, Pa
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Critical Temperature

The temperature above which a gas cannot be liquefied by pressure alone, however great.

T_c = 8a / 27Rb K
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Crystal Defect

Any irregularity that interrupts the perfectly ordered arrangement of particles in a crystal.

Dimensionless
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Crystalline Solid

A solid in which the constituent particles are arranged in a regular, repeating three-dimensional pattern extending over long distances.

Dimensionless
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures

The total pressure of a gas mixture equals the sum of the pressures each component would exert alone in the same volume.

p_total = p₁ + p₂ + p₃ … Pa
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Deposition

The direct conversion of a vapour into a solid without an intermediate liquid phase.

kJ/mol
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Diffusion

The spontaneous spreading of one substance through another as a result of random molecular motion.

J = −D (dc/dx) m²/s
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Effusion

The escape of gas molecules one at a time through a hole much smaller than the mean free path.

rate ∝ 1 / √M mol/s
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Evaporation

The escape of molecules from the surface of a liquid into the vapour phase below the boiling point.

kJ/mol
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Face-Centred Cubic

A cubic arrangement with particles at the eight corners and at the centre of each of the six faces.

4 atoms per cell, 74% packing Dimensionless
States of Matter & Gas Laws

Freezing Point

The temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid, numerically identical to the melting point of the pure substance.

ΔT_f = K_f × m °C