In: Chemistry
True or False: The solid-gas and solid-liquid coexistence lines always have positive slopes in the phase diagram of a pure substance.
TRUE
Normally The solid-gas and solid-liquid coexistence lines always have positive slopes in the phase diagram of a pure substance.
However, for water, the line slopes to the left as the diagram for water shows. This indicates that the liquid phase is more dense than the solid phase. This phenomenon is caused by the crystal structure of the solid phase. In the solid forms of water , the molecules crystalize in a lattice with greater average space between molecules, thus resulting in a solid with a lower density than the liquid. Because of this phenomenon, one is able to melt ice simply by applying pressure and not by adding heat.