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States of Matter & Gas Laws

Deposition

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

Unit kJ/mol

In depth

Deposition is the reverse of sublimation and releases the corresponding enthalpy. It occurs when a vapour meets a surface cold enough that the equilibrium vapour pressure of the solid is exceeded, and it is used industrially to grow thin films atom by atom.

Examples in the real world

Frost forming on a window overnight; iodine vapour recrystallising on the cool upper wall of a flask; chemical vapour deposition of silicon.