Understanding the relationship between Pressure and change of state

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between pressure and changes of state, specifically focusing on the effects of pressure on the melting of ice and the boiling of water. Participants explore theoretical underpinnings, relevant equations, and conceptual clarifications related to thermodynamics and phase transitions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the reasoning behind the temporary melting of ice under increased pressure, suggesting it may relate to thermodynamic principles.
  • There is mention of regelation as a concept that may explain the temporary melting effect.
  • Participants discuss the implications of blocking the outlet of boiling water, with some asserting that this leads to a drop in temperature and cessation of boiling unless additional heat is supplied.
  • One participant proposes that the relationship between pressure and temperature at boiling point can be described using gas equations, specifically referencing the ideal gas law.
  • Another participant explains that boiling occurs when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds the pressure above it, and that evaporation requires energy, which leads to a temperature drop if no heat is added.
  • There is a discussion about the Clapeyron equation and its role in describing the relationship between pressure, temperature, and phase changes, with some participants expressing uncertainty about its introduction in their studies.
  • Questions arise regarding the definitions of boiling point and whether they are synonymous with the conditions of vapor pressure and atmospheric pressure.
  • Some participants seek clarification on the adiabatic nature of the system and the insulation involved during the boiling process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of understanding and agreement on the principles discussed, with some points remaining contested, particularly regarding the definitions and implications of pressure on phase changes. There is no clear consensus on the interpretations of the effects of pressure on melting and boiling points.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that they have not encountered certain thermodynamic equations in their courses, leading to questions about the pedagogical progression of these topics and their derivation from gas laws. There is also uncertainty about the specific conditions under which the temperature drop occurs during boiling.

JC2000
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1. My book states that an increase in pressure on ice causes temporary melting. Could you explain the reasoning behind this/ the law that predicts this?

2. My book also states that if water is boiling in a flask and the outlet is blocked then temperature drops and boiling would stop unless more heat is supplied externally. Again what underpins this prediction? I tried reasoning this one out using the Gas Equations. Applying it to the gas forming I felt that an increase in pressure at boiling point would mean a further increase in T (since ##\frac{P_1}{T_1}=\frac{P_2}{T_2})##

Does this have something to do with vapour pressure?
 
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This kind of questions should be in the homework forum -- I think. Never mind.

re summary:
Not clear on which law is used to predict the effect pressure has on change of state.
the equation of state perhaps :wink:? For ideal gases the ideal gas law :smile:

re 1: check wikipedia regelation

re 2:
JC2000 said:
My book also states that if water is boiling in a flask and the outlet is blocked then temperature drops and boiling would stop
Could you quote verbatim ? I am surprised about the 'temperature drops' but perhaps there is a subtlety involved
 
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Re 1: Yes my book mentions regelation. So does this mean the effect of pressure is 'temporary'.

Also regarding the pressure temperature relation. Since pressure in the system increases, this means the temperature of the gas increases. But then I feel there is an inconsistency with the statement below (where the temperature 'drops' or have I confused the change in boiling point with a drop in temperature?

Re 2:"If now the steam outlet is closed for a few seconds to increase the pressure in the flask, you will notice that boiling stops. More heat would be required to raise the temperature (depending on the increase in pressure) before boiling begins again. Thus boiling point increases with increase in pressure. "

Thank you!
 
Much better: 'more heat would be required to increase (maintain) the temperature' I can agree with.

A liquid 'boils' if the vapour pressure of the liquid is higher than the pressure above the liquid. The evaporation takes energy (heat of evaporation), so if no heat is supplied from outside, the temperature drops until the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure above the liquid.

Vapour pressure increases with temperature, so increasing the pressure by closing off the outlet stops the boiling once the evaporation has built up enough pressure. This takes some time during which the temperature of the liquid drops (the duration of the adiabatic flash) -- hence my careful wording.
 
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JC2000 said:
Summary: Not clear on which law is used to predict the effect pressure has on change of state.

1. My book states that an increase in pressure on ice causes temporary melting. Could you explain the reasoning behind this/ the law that predicts this?

2. My book also states that if water is boiling in a flask and the outlet is blocked then temperature drops and boiling would stop unless more heat is supplied externally. Again what underpins this prediction? I tried reasoning this one out using the Gas Equations. Applying it to the gas forming I felt that an increase in pressure at boiling point would mean a further increase in T (since ##\frac{P_1}{T_1}=\frac{P_2}{T_2})##

Does this have something to do with vapour pressure?
With regard to item 1, thermodynamics tells us that the effect of pressure on the melting temperature of a substance is described by the equation $$\frac{dp}{dT}=\frac{\Delta H}{T\Delta V}$$where ##\Delta H## is the heat of melting and ##\Delta V## is the specific volume of the liquid minus the specific volume of the solid.

With regard to item 2, thermodynamics tells us that the effect of temperature on the equilibrium vapor pressure of a substance is given by the Clapeyron equation: $$\frac{dp}{dT}=\frac{\Delta H}{T\Delta V}$$where ##\Delta H## is the heat of vaporization and ##\Delta V## is the specific volume of the vapor minus the specific volume of the liquid.
 
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BvU said:
Much better: 'more heat would be required to increase (maintain) the temperature' I can agree with.

A liquid 'boils' if the vapour pressure of the liquid is higher than the pressure above the liquid. The evaporation takes energy (heat of evaporation), so if no heat is supplied from outside, the temperature drops until the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure above the liquid.

Vapour pressure increases with temperature, so increasing the pressure by closing off the outlet stops the boiling once the evaporation has built up enough pressure. This takes some time during which the temperature of the liquid drops (the duration of the adiabatic flash) -- hence my careful wording.

(a)I see, so when the flask is covered, the vapour pressure builds until it is greater than the atmospheric pressure would have been above the liquid. At this point more energy would be needed to overcome this and continue evaporation? But why would the atmospheric pressure and vapour pressure be antagonistic to each other?

(b)Is there a way to apply the gas laws to this situation and see what they predict? My attempt : Applying the gas laws to the vapour indicates that its temperature must increase as vapour pressure builds. This does not explain the rise in boiling point since that is due to a different phenomenon. (Is my reasoning correct?)

(c)To conclude, is it fair to say that the effect of pressure on boiling point is explained by vapour pressure build up and not the gas laws?

(d)My book defines boiling point as the temperature at which the liquid and gas phase of a substance coexist (or are in thermal equilibrium), from what you said I gather that boiling point can also be defined as the temperature at which the vapour pressure over the liquid is the same as the atmospheric pressure/ pressure of whatever gas is over the liquid. Is it correct to say that there are two ways to define it (or are they synonymous but I have not understood something?)?

(e)Lastly, in the second paragraph of your answer you mention that temperature in the flask drops, why does this happen? Also, regarding the time in which the system is adiabatic, what part of the system is insulated (or is the entire flask insulated?), and by what?

Thanks!
 
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Chestermiller said:
With regard to item 1, thermodynamics tells us that the effect of pressure on the melting temperature of a substance is described by the equation $$\frac{dp}{dT}=\frac{\Delta H}{T\Delta V}$$where ##\Delta H## is the heat of melting and ##\Delta V## is the specific volume of the liquid minus the specific volume of the solid.

With regard to item 2, thermodynamics tells us that the effect of temperature on the equilibrium vapor pressure of a substance is given by the Clapeyron equation: $$\frac{dp}{dT}=\frac{\Delta H}{T\Delta V}$$where ##\Delta H## is the heat of vaporization and ##\Delta V## is the specific volume of the vapor minus the specific volume of the liquid.

Thank you for your answer!
Regarding the formulas, I have not encountered them in my course yet (not in Physics or Chemistry). On looking up wikipedia, I understand that the equation represents the slope of the tangent of a P-T curve. But I also have a few questions :
(A) Can this also be derived from the Gas Laws?
(B) If not, then in the context of pedagogy, at what 'level' are these introduced (what is the progression of topics around the topic of these equations)? Apologies if this question is sort of pointless, but I tend to derive some comfort from knowing how topics relate to each other, and thus a set of equations, seemingly out of the blue don't sit very well with me.
(C) Is the equation an alternative means to predict what is happening (as compared to responder @BvU's answer) or are they the same? Thank you for your time!
 
JC2000 said:
Thank you for your answer!
Regarding the formulas, I have not encountered them in my course yet (not in Physics or Chemistry). On looking up wikipedia, I understand that the equation represents the slope of the tangent of a P-T curve. But I also have a few questions :
(A) Can this also be derived from the Gas Laws?
No.
(B) If not, then in the context of pedagogy, at what 'level' are these introduced (what is the progression of topics around the topic of these equations)? Apologies if this question is sort of pointless, but I tend to derive some comfort from knowing how topics relate to each other, and thus a set of equations, seemingly out of the blue don't sit very well with me.
These are usually introduced in first-semester courses in thermodynamics. Are you familiar with thermodynamic functions like entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy? This all starts from the condition that, at a change of phase, the change in Gibbs free energy is zero, or, equivalently, that the change in entropy is equal to the change in enthalpy divided by the absolute temperature.
(C) Is the equation an alternative means to predict what is happening (as compared to responder @BvU's answer) or are they the same?
The equations I presented quantify the concepts described by @BvU in his response. They provide exact thermodynamic relationships for calculating the relationship between pressure- and temperature variations at phase equilibrium.
 
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Chestermiller said:
These are usually introduced in first-semester courses in thermodynamics. Are you familiar with thermodynamic functions like entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy? This all starts from the condition that, at a change of phase, the change in Gibbs free energy is zero, or, equivalently, that the change in entropy is equal to the change in enthalpy divided by the absolute temperature.

Yes, I am familiar with the basics of these terms, but I admit I am not very comfortable applying these ideas. But I see where this belongs now! I think I understand this now.
Thank you for your time!
 
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JC2000 said:
Yes, I am familiar with the basics of these terms, but I admit I am not very comfortable applying these ideas. But I see where this belongs now! I think I understand this now.
Thank you for your time!
The equation for the differential change in free energy of a pure single phase substance is $$dG=-SdT+VdP$$. So for a pure liquid, $$dG_L=-S_LdT+V_LdP$$and for a pure vapor $$dG_V=-S_VdT+V_VdP$$So, along a phase boundary between vapor and liquid, ##d(G_V-G_L)=d\Delta G=0## or$$-S_VdT+V_VdP=-S_LdT+V_LdP$$or, equivalently,$$-\Delta SdT+\Delta VdP=0$$
 
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Chestermiller said:
The equation for the differential change in free energy of a pure single phase substance is $$dG=-SdT+VdP$$. So for a pure liquid, $$dG_L=-S_LdT+V_LdP$$and for a pure vapor $$dG_V=-S_VdT+V_VdP$$So, along a phase boundary between vapor and liquid, ##d(G_V-G_L)=d\Delta G=0## or$$-S_VdT+V_VdP=-S_LdT+V_LdP$$or, equivalently,$$-\Delta SdT+\Delta VdP=0$$

From, $$-\Delta SdT+\Delta VdP=0$$
using ##\Delta S = \frac{\Delta H}{T}## the equation you mention is arrived at (?)

Thank you very much! The derivation made things much clearer!
 
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