What happens to water at just above absolute zero degrees?

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SUMMARY

Water exhibits unique properties when cooled to temperatures just above absolute zero, specifically around 140 K. At this temperature, water can form a glasslike solid through extremely rapid cooling or vapor deposition, rather than traditional crystalline structures. The discussion also touches on the nature of glass, debating whether it is an amorphous solid or a highly viscous liquid, with references to historical artifacts suggesting potential flow, although this remains anecdotal and unsupported by concrete evidence.

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  • Understanding of thermodynamics, specifically phase transitions.
  • Knowledge of crystallography and the formation of crystalline structures.
  • Familiarity with the properties of amorphous solids.
  • Basic principles of rapid cooling techniques in material science.
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  • Research the properties of water at low temperatures, focusing on phase transitions.
  • Explore the concept of amorphous solids and their characteristics.
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  • Examine historical studies on glass and its classification as a solid or liquid.
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Scientists, material researchers, and students interested in the physical properties of water and glass, as well as those exploring phase transitions in materials science.

Jarfi
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I know that water forms different kinds of crystals in different kind of temperatures but is there any temperature where water is solid but does not form crystals for example just above absolute zero degrees, what kind of crystals does it form?
 
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Jarfi said:
I know that water forms different kinds of crystals in different kind of temperatures but is there any temperature where water is solid but does not form crystals for example just above absolute zero degrees, what kind of crystals does it form?

Extremely rapid cooling, or vapour disposition at temperatures below ~140 K can form a glasslike solid.

http://stacks.iop.org/JPhysCM/15/R1669"
 
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willem2 said:
Extremely rapid cooling, or vapour disposition at temperatures below ~140 K can form a glasslike solid.

http://stacks.iop.org/JPhysCM/15/R1669"

Well answered. But that raises another question. Is glass a solid or just an extremely viscous liquid. Glass objects removed from Egyptian tombs show evidence of "flowing".
 
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You can say yes because it does not have a normal melting point.

Some people also refer to it as a amorphous solid. There is no real consensus to my understanding.
 
Glass is an amorphous solid. As far as I know, there is no actual evidence of glass "flowing", just anecdotes which are poorly supported. If you have any actual references for the glass objects from egyptian tombs "flowing", I would love to see them, but all of the actual information that I have seen indicates the contrary.
 

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