Introduction
The particular temperature at which a liquid transforms into a solid is known as its Freezing Point. Like the melting point, the freezing point also rises when there is an increase in pressure.
When we talk about mixtures and specific organic compounds, their freezing point is lower than their melting point. When these mixtures begin freezing, the solid they form in the start has a different composition than that of the liquid.
This formation substantially changes the composition of the remaining liquids, this usually happens in a manner that lowers the freezing point slowly.
We can apply this same treatment in successive melting, purifying mixtures, and freezing.
Let us study the different types of freezing points, the factors affecting them, the supercooled liquid, and other concepts.
Freezing Point - Basics
As we discussed that freezing is the process where a substance changes its state from liquid to solid, we understand that in this process a substance is transforming from one state of matter into another.
We will call a point a freezing point if its solid and liquid states exist at the same time in the given equilibrium.
Freezing Point Defection
The freezing point is the temperature at which a liquid changes into solid, at normal atmospheric pressure. A more precise definition of a freezing point is the temperature at which liquid and solid phases coexist in the equilibrium.
How Does Freezing Occur? - The Process
As the liquid freezes, it turns from a liquid state into a solid-state. This phenomenon occurs when a substance’s molecules are loosely bound. The intermolecular forces of attraction between the molecules are less than that of the solids.
In liquids, water molecules are always moving. They continuously bump into each other and are always in motion. This is the thermal energy between these molecules and this energy cools down when it freezes, as a result, these molecules come closer and turn the liquid-solid.
When a liquid like water freezes, its molecules settle down in one place, the forces attracted to one another hold these molecules together and solid crystals begin to form.
During this freezing process, the temperature of the substance remains the same. The particles in this liquid substance turn into crystalline solids, as the particles lose their energy when they are turning into solids, this energy gets released.
Fun Fact
A liquid's freezing point is the same as its melting point in the solid-state. For example, water’s freezing point is 0° Celsius (32° Fahrenheit), but the melting point of water in its solid state is also 0° Celsius.
Factors Affecting the Freezing Point
Types of molecules: If the intermolecular forces between the molecules of a liquid are strong, its freezing point also becomes high.
In contrast, if the intermolecular forces of attraction between the molecules are weak, then its freezing point becomes low.
By observing these two facts we can say that the intermolecular forces of attraction are directly proportional to its freezing point.
Types of Changes in a Freezing Point
We observe that there are two kinds of changes, chemical and physical. These changes can affect a substance’s freezing point. We can sometimes also change the freezing point and melting point of a certain substance by mixing another soluble substance with it.
You can also obtain a lower freezing point by altering the pressure.
Supercooled Liquid
What if a liquid is cooled to an extreme but it is still a liquid substance?
This process is called supercooling a liquid, where we chill the liquid even beyond its freezing point and melting point without turning its state to solid.
Now in theory we know this is not possible, as the freezing point and melting point of a substance has to be the same. It applies to most substances.
However, there are few substances that have a slight difference between their melting and freezing points. These kinds of substances can get cooled beyond their freezing point and still stay in their liquid state. These are substances that are known as Supercooled Liquids.
The most well-known example of a supercooled liquid is the clouds at high altitudes that are nothing but a collection of supercooled water droplets that are below their freezing point.
FAQs on Freezing Point
1. How can we figure out a liquid’s freezing point?
A liquid's freezing point is the temperature at which that particular liquid changes into a solid matter state. For example, water freezes at 0 degrees celsius at the standard atmospheric pressure.
Practically, if we want to find the liquid’s temperature, these are the step we’ll have to follow:
Start with pouring distilled water into two plastic cups, these cups will serve as our control. After labelling these cups we move to the next step.
Place the cups into a freezer (this freezer should be capable of freezing below 0 degrees celsius, at least up to -15 degrees celsius). Leave the cups in the freezer till they are completely frozen.
Take a set of cups out, one of each liquid and watch them until they start melting. Now after taking them out, we can observe that the melting point temperature stays at the same reading until the solid becomes liquid.
After taking out the thermometer that we would insert in the slush, we will write down the temperature as it turns completely liquid. (Thermometer should be able to read temperatures below 0 degrees celsius)
After taking the reading with the thermometer, take out the second set of cups and perform the same measuring process again. Doing this process again is to make sure that the thermometer is working properly.
2. Do all liquids have the same freezing and melting points?
Theoretically, if we study basic substances found in nature, we can say that all solids should have the same melting point and freezing point, but then there are some substances that can have minor differences. This leads to a phenomenon called supercooling.
In this process, some substances can cool below their observed freezing point and still stay solid.
These substances are known as super-cool liquids. These substances have special crystal-forming qualities where they can still retain their original state but go below their freezing point.
3. Do different liquids have the same freezing points?
No, different substances have different freezing points, these freezing points vary based on the difference between the molecules all these substances have. The forces of attraction these molecular substances have is what decides their freezing points.
Here are some commonly known freezing and melting points of different substances that we should know, these freezing points also vary from each other:
Hydrogen has a melting point of -259°C, Oxygen has a melting point of -219°C, Ethanol has a freezing point of -114°C, Water has a freezing point of 0°C and Iron has a melting point of 1538°C.
4. What are some real-life examples of supercooling?
Supercooling is a state where the liquids do not turn into solids even after going below their freezing point.
This phenomenon could be found in different examples in the real world:
We can find an example of this in Meteorology, where clouds are nothing but a group of several droplets accumulated together and existing below their freezing point.
Supercooling can also be found in frozen foods, where it preserves the food by forming ice crystals around them. This helps us keep the food's taste and texture intact.
Glass is also a well-known example of a supercool liquid, this is because glass is an Amorphous Solid. Amorphous solids are solids that have molecular particles that flow but very slowly. They do not form a crystalline solid structure but keep the molecules moving. Hence, the glass is known as a supercooled liquid.
5. How does Vedantu help me in studying these concepts?
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On this page we discuss the concept of freezing point, to learn more about other topics related to it, like melting points, the effects and pressure on substances with different molecular structures, you can visit our app and website that also allows you to download the study material for offline use.