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Related Concept Videos

Phase Transitions02:31

Phase Transitions

Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to occupy...
Phase Transitions01:21

Phase Transitions

A phase transition is the process in which a substance changes from one state of matter to another, like from a solid to a liquid, liquid to gas, or vice versa, at a specific temperature and under given pressure conditions. This change is spontaneous and is affected by alterations in temperature and pressure. These parameters impact the strength of the forces between molecules (intermolecular forces) in the substance.During a phase transition, both the initial and final phases of the substance...
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing02:39

Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing

Heating a crystalline solid increases the average energy of its atoms, molecules, or ions, and the solid gets hotter. At some point, the added energy becomes large enough to partially overcome the forces holding the molecules or ions of the solid in their fixed positions, and the solid begins the process of transitioning to the liquid state or melting. At this point, the temperature of the solid stops rising, despite the continual input of heat, and it remains constant until all of the solid is...
States of Matter and Phase Changes00:59

States of Matter and Phase Changes

The internal energy of a substance—the total kinetic energy of all its molecules and the potential energy of their associated forces—depends on the strength of the intermolecular forces in the condensed phases and the pressure exerted on the substance. The internal energy of a substance is the highest in the gaseous state, the lowest in the solid state, and intermediate in the liquid state. Phase transitions are caused by changes in physical conditions, such as temperature and pressure, that...
Phase Diagram01:19

Phase Diagram

The phase of a given substance depends on the pressure and temperature. Thus, plots of pressure versus temperature showing the phase in each region provide considerable insights into the thermal properties of substances. Such plots are known as phase diagrams. For instance, in the phase diagram for water (Figure 1), the solid curve boundaries between the phases indicate phase transitions (i.e., temperatures and pressures at which the phases coexist).
Phase Diagram01:24

Phase Diagram

A phase diagram is a graphical representation of the physical states of a substance under different conditions of temperature and pressure. It shows the boundaries between solid, liquid, and gas phases and the conditions at which these phases coexist in equilibrium. An area in a phase diagram represents a single phase, whereas lines or phase boundaries represent the equilibrium between two phases.In the phase diagram of water, the boundary line between the solid and liquid states illustrates...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
10:56

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Published on: May 20, 2014

Confinement-induced phase transitions in simple liquids.

J Klein, E Kumacheva

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |August 11, 1995
    PubMed
    Summary

    Confined liquids transition abruptly from liquid-like to solid states when surface separation decreases to a few molecular layers. This transition causes a reversible increase in film rigidity by over seven orders of magnitude.

    Area of Science:

    • Physics and Chemistry of Materials
    • Surface Science
    • Condensed Matter Physics

    Background:

    • Understanding phase transitions in confined systems is crucial for materials science.
    • Surface interactions significantly influence liquid behavior at the nanoscale.
    • Previous studies have explored confinement effects, but abrupt transitions require further investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the liquid-to-solid transition of a model liquid under confinement.
    • To determine the critical surface separation for this transition.
    • To quantify the change in film rigidity during the transition.

    Main Methods:

    • Simulating a simple model liquid confined between two parallel surfaces.
    • Varying the surface separation from large distances down to molecular dimensions.

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    High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

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    Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

    Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
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    Published on: May 20, 2014

    Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
    06:26

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    High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal
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  • Measuring shear viscosity and calculating effective viscosity to assess film rigidity.

    • Main Results:

    • Confined films exhibited liquid-like shear viscosity for separations down to seven molecular layers.
    • A single molecular layer decrease in separation triggered an abrupt, reversible liquid-to-solid transition.
    • Rigidity, measured by effective viscosity, increased by at least seven orders of magnitude at the transition.

    Conclusions:

    • Surface separation is a critical parameter controlling liquid-to-solid transitions in confined systems.
    • Confinement can induce dramatic, reversible changes in material properties at the molecular scale.
    • This study provides insights into the fundamental physics of phase transitions at interfaces.