MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Subject: Can a solid be ground into a powder so fine that it behaves like a liquid?

Date: Mon Apr 10 19:27:52 2000
Posted by Jeremy
Grade level: grad (science) School: NC State
City: Raleigh State/Province: NC Country: USA
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 955412872.Ch
Message:

Take salt (NaCl) for example, at a temp and pressure where it is a solid.  
Or ice, or gold.

This is a complex, multifaceted question because I'm sure many things 
prevent this from happening, depending on the material, environment, etc.  
But let me explain how I arrived at this question:

Solid objects don't seem to stick back together when broken apart.  
Therefore I guess in theory we could have a pile of unbonded ice molecules, 
each one below freezing.  Would that not constitute water?  Yet we never 
see liquids formed in such a way.  Why?


Re: Can a solid be ground into a powder so fine that it behaves like a liquid?

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