phase transition
Noun: A phase transition is a physical change in a substance from one state of matter (solid, liquid, or gas) to another. This change involves a fundamental rearrangement of the substance's structure or energy but does not alter its chemical composition or identity.
The term "phase transition" is used in physics, chemistry, and materials science to describe the process where matter changes its state due to changes in temperature or pressure. - It is a countable noun. - It often appears in technical and scientific contexts.
- "to undergo a phase transition": This phrase describes the process of a substance changing state.
- When heated sufficiently, the material will undergo a phase transition from a crystalline solid to an isotropic liquid.
- The concept can be extended metaphorically in fields like sociology or economics to describe a fundamental shift in state or condition, though this is a specialized, non-literal application.
- The rapid adoption of the internet marked a phase transition in how society communicates.
- Phase change: A direct synonym for phase transition.
- The latent heat is absorbed during a phase change.
- State change: A more general term that can be synonymous with phase transition.
- Transition point or critical point: The specific temperature and pressure at which a phase transition occurs.
- Transformation of state
- Change of state
- Physical transition
As a scientific noun, "phase transition" does not form phrasal verbs or idioms. However, it is central to related fixed phrases: - First-order phase transition: A transition involving a latent heat (e.g., melting, boiling). - Second-order phase transition: A continuous transition without a latent heat (e.g., the superconducting transition). - Phase boundary: The line on a phase diagram that separates two states of matter.
- a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition