MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: Could you please tell me a little about the phenomenon called supercooling

Date: Fri Feb 19 16:13:02 1999
Posted By: Myron Cagan, Staff Engineer, process development, micro devices
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 919097147.Ch
Message:

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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