Can a Liquid Survive in a Vacuum Without Vaporizing?

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SUMMARY

A liquid can exist in a vacuum, but its behavior depends on the specific liquid and environmental conditions. Temperature plays a crucial role; for instance, water may evaporate in a vacuum but is more likely to freeze due to the cold temperatures of space. Mercury, on the other hand, exhibits minimal vaporization until reaching a near-perfect vacuum. The concept of vapor pressure is essential, as substances will vaporize if their vapor pressure exceeds the equilibrium vapor pressure.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of vapor pressure and equilibrium vapor pressure
  • Basic knowledge of phase changes in materials
  • Familiarity with the properties of liquids, specifically water and mercury
  • Awareness of temperature effects on states of matter
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the vapor pressure of various liquids at different temperatures
  • Study the phase diagram of water to understand its behavior in varying conditions
  • Explore the properties of mercury and its applications in vacuum environments
  • Learn about the effects of temperature on phase transitions in materials
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Students and professionals in physics, chemistry, and engineering, particularly those interested in thermodynamics and material science.

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can a liquid exist in vacuum? Wouldn't it vaporize to gaseous form?
 
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Temperature might have an effect.
 
It would depend entirely on the liquid. Temperature would have the greatest effect of course. Water for example might evaporate but since most space is cold I believe it would more likely freeze. Density might also play a role. I imagine that mercury for example would be effected very little.
 
Godspanther said:
It would depend entirely on the liquid. Temperature would have the greatest effect of course. Water for example might evaporate but since most space is cold I believe it would more likely freeze. Density might also play a role. I imagine that mercury for example would be effected very little.

Ice vaporizes quite nicely, thank you. More of the world snowfall evaporates than melts. Mercury will vaporize well before a perfect vacuum is reached. In short, if the vapor pressure (solids have vapor pressures, too) is less than the equilibrium vapor pressure, the substance will vaporize. For things like diamonds, this may take a while, but it will eventually happen.
 

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