phase diagram
A "phase diagram" is a vital tool in physics, chemistry, and materials science for visualizing the equilibrium conditions under which different states of matter exist.
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Definition
C1Thermodynamics
(technical, academic)A graph showing the conditions of temperature and pressure where different states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) coexist in equilibrium.
Example
- The phase diagram of water illustrates the temperatures and pressures at which ice, liquid water, and steam are stable.
- By examining the phase diagram, scientists can predict the conditions necessary for a substance to change from one phase to another.
C1Material Science
(technical, academic)A chart that displays the stability regions of different phases of a material based on variables like temperature, pressure, and composition.
Example
- Engineers use phase diagrams to understand the properties of alloys and their behavior under different conditions.
- The phase diagram of a binary alloy system helps in determining the melting points of the components.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "phase diagram":