Compressing Water: Can It Be Done?

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    Compressed Water
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of compressing water by first converting it to gas, compressing the gas, and then allowing it to return to a liquid state. Participants explore the implications of gas compression and the conditions under which water vapor can condense back into liquid form.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests a process of turning water into gas, compressing it, and then cooling it to achieve a liquid state, questioning the possibility of compressing water itself.
  • Another participant argues that while gas can be compressed, the boiling point of water varies with pressure, implying that excessive compression would lead to condensation rather than achieving a compressed liquid state.
  • A third participant points out that water vapor cannot condense into liquid without external cooling or compression, emphasizing the need for energy input for vaporization to occur.
  • One participant claims that water can be compressed, referencing the shock hugoniot, which indicates that under certain conditions, water can experience compression.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the possibility of compressing water and the process of transitioning from gas back to liquid. There is no consensus on the feasibility of the proposed method or the implications of gas compression.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight various assumptions regarding the behavior of water and water vapor under different pressures and temperatures, as well as the energy requirements for phase changes. The discussion remains open-ended with unresolved technical details.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring thermodynamics, phase transitions, and the properties of water in different states, particularly in the context of gas compression and liquid formation.

Falgata
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Okey I know that this title is somewhat misleading.

Here we go

Me and a friend started to discuss what would happen if someone took one unit of water and turn it into a gas and then rapidly compressed the gas before then cooling it down to room temperature.

I know that one can not compress water, but by doing this would it be possible to compress the gases and then allow it at a time off ones own choising uncompress the gas and let it go into a liquid state.
 
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Falgata said:
Me and a friend started to discuss what would happen if someone took one unit of water and turn it into a gas and then rapidly compressed the gas before then cooling it down to room temperature.

I know that one can not compress water, but by doing this would it be possible to compress the gases and then allow it at a time off ones own choising uncompress the gas and let it go into a liquid state.
If I understand correctly what you mean, you are wondering if you can transform liquid water into a gas, compress the gas into a volume less than that of the liquid water, and then let the gas condense into a liquid again, effectively resulting in a compressed liquid? Short answer: no! The boiling point varies with pressure. If you try to compress the gas too much (at constant temperature), it will transform into a liquid (or even into a solid, depending on the conditions).
 
Falgata said:
Okey I know that this title is somewhat misleading.

Here we go

Me and a friend started to discuss what would happen if someone took one unit of water and turn it into a gas and then rapidly compressed the gas before then cooling it down to room temperature.

I know that one can not compress water, but by doing this would it be possible to compress the gases and then allow it at a time off ones own choising uncompress the gas and let it go into a liquid state.

Your argument is not clear, but I think I follow it up to the last part of the last sentence. There, you lose me completely. Water vapor will not "go into a liquid state" on its own. It must be either cooled or compressed or both. At room temperature, liquid water will naturally vaporize unless the ambient vapor pressure is at the equilibrium pressure or higher. This vaporization requires energy. If no energy is provided (heating), then the water will draw the enthalpy of vaporization from its surroundings.

I'm not sure what end you have in mind. Or, is this a thought problem? If so, it needs restating.
 
You can compress water. The shock hugoniot is well known for water.
 

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