MadSci Network: Chemistry |
Supercooled liquids(or undercooled liquids)are discussed in General Chemistry textbooks. Look in chapters on liquids and solids and the transitions between these states. Or, look in chapters that discuss phase diagrams. I take the information below from, Chemistry, 3rd Ed., by J.V. Quagliano and L.M. Vallarino, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1969, page 187. A rough description of supercooling is that as a liquid is cooled the relatively slow moving molecules must assume the fixed positions characteristic of the solid state of the material. In some cases the molecules do not assume the proper positions on a large scale. In this case the material remains liquid below its freezing point. This supercooled liquid is unstable. Any disturbance such as shaking or adding solid particles would cause sudden formation of the solid (freezing). High viscosity liquids are the easiest to supercool. Presumably the resistance to flow of these molecules inhibits their moving to the positions required for the formation of the solid. Glass is a supercooled liquid of very high viscosity.
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