Texas A&M University (TAMU) CHEM107 General Chemistry for Engineering Students Exam 2 Practice

Sublimation is defined as the transition of a substance from a solid state directly to a gas state without first becoming a liquid. This process occurs when molecules at the surface of the solid gain enough energy, typically through heat, to break free from the solid lattice and enter the gas phase. A common example of sublimation is dry ice (solid carbon dioxide), which sublimates directly into carbon dioxide gas at temperatures above its sublimation point, without passing through a liquid phase. This unique transition is essential in various applications, such as freeze-drying and in the study of phase diagrams, where understanding the direct pathway from solid to gas helps in manipulating substance properties.