What in heaven's name is the 'Water Triple Point '?

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SUMMARY

The 'Water Triple Point' refers to the unique condition where water can exist simultaneously in solid, liquid, and gas phases at a specific temperature and pressure. This point is defined as 273.16 K (0.01 °C) and is crucial for the Kelvin temperature scale. An experiment to demonstrate this phenomenon involves carefully controlling the temperature and pressure within a sealed environment to observe the transitions between phases. Water is not the only substance with a triple point; various materials also exhibit this property, as detailed in resources like the Wikipedia article on triple points.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of phase transitions in materials
  • Familiarity with temperature and pressure concepts
  • Basic knowledge of the Kelvin temperature scale
  • Experience with experimental design and control
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of phase diagrams and their applications
  • Learn about the triple points of other substances beyond water
  • Explore experimental setups for demonstrating phase transitions
  • Study the implications of the triple point in thermodynamics
USEFUL FOR

Students in chemistry or physics, educators teaching phase transitions, and researchers interested in thermodynamic properties of materials will benefit from this discussion.

Cortazar
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What in heaven's name is the "'Water Triple Point"'?

And besides all the theory behind it, could you posit an experiment to prove it?
 
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It is the only point in the P,T plane where all three phases of water (solid, liquid, and gas) can coexist in equilibrium.
 


as for an experiment, well you would need a box of some sort with water inside, where you can carefully control the temperature and pressure, then by adjusting both to the required points, you should be able to see water go from liquid to solid to gas and back to liquid, only making slight changes in the conditions

heres a picture that shows the conditions at the point itself
http://www.sv.vt.edu/classes/MSE2094_NoteBook/96ClassProj/examples/trip_pt1.jpg
 
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Cortazar said:
And besides all the theory behind it, could you posit an experiment to prove it?

Prove WHAT?

Can you prove chess? Can you prove a car? Can you prove a dog?
 


Cortazar said:
And besides all the theory behind it, could you posit an experiment to prove it?

It is the temperature and pressure at which water is solid, liquid, and gas.

Someone in my high school chemistry class produced this state, so I have seen it with my own eyes. Ice floating in boiling water.
 


PatrickPowers said:
Ice floating in boiling water.

Cool.

Is water the only (or one of a rare breed of) substances that has a triple point?
 


DaveC426913 said:
Is water the only (or one of a rare breed of) substances that has a triple point?

Table of triple points (Wikipedia)

Factoid: the triple point of water is part of the definition of the Kelvin temperature scale. It's defined as 273.16 K, exactly.
 
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Not at all. The Wiki article on triple point includes a list of (some) materials with their triple points.

edit: Sorry. jtbell was faster.
 


DaveC426913 said:
Cool.

Is water the only (or one of a rare breed of) substances that has a triple point?

Apparently not the only one: . I'm having some laughs, I used youtube as a search engine for once, almost unbelievable.

Edit: both jtbell and nasu have been faster.
 
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  • #10


jtbell said:
Table of triple points (Wikipedia)

Factoid: the triple point of water is part of the definition of the Kelvin temperature scale. It's defined as 273.16 K, exactly.

nasu said:
Not at all. The Wiki article on triple point includes a list of (some) materials with their triple points.

edit: Sorry. jtbell was faster.
fluidistic said:
Apparently not the only one: . I'm having some laughs, I used youtube as a search engine for once, almost unbelievable.

Edit: both jtbell and nasu have been faster.

Excellent demonstration of the triple point of answers
 
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