Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Analyzing Melts and Fluids from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations with the UMD Package
Published on: September 17, 2021
Using heat capacity and compressibility to choose among two-state models of liquid water
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 44074, USA. terry.carlton@oberlin.edu
Abstract:
We extend to heat capacity Cp the model of Vedamuthu, Singh, and Robinson (J. Phys. Chem. 1994, 98, 2222). This model and that of Bartell (J. Phys. Chem. B 1997, 101, 7573) fit successfully, even in the supercooled region, the temperature dependence of Cp, volume, and isothermal compressibility kappa(T). The Robinson model is superior for kappa(T). Tanaka's model (J. Chem. Phys. 2000, 112, 799) fails for C(p) even after correction of a derivational error. All three models assume that the liquid consists of low-density component 1 and high-density component 2. We conclude that Robinson's tactics, ignoring the intercomponent equilibrium constant and determining compositions solely from volumes, yield the most reliable compositions and individual-component properties. Our fits of the Robinson model to C(p) yield at 0 degrees C H(2) - H(1) of (135 +/- 35) J/g, H(1) - H(ice) of 0.8DeltaH(fus), and C(2) - C(1) of (0.1 +/- 0.7) J/K.g. The enthalpy difference between the components is largely responsible for the rapid change of C(p) at the lowest supercooled temperatures. We propose an adjustment to Speedy and Angell's (J. Chem. Phys. 1976, 65, 851) experimental values of kappa(T) for supercooled water.
Related Concept Videos
States of Water
Water freezes when the intermolecular forces are greater than the kinetic energy. Unlike most other substances, water is less dense in its solid state than in its liquid state. This is because each water molecule can form...
Heating and Cooling Curves
For instance, the addition of heat raises the temperature of a solid; the amount of heat absorbed depends on the heat capacity of the solid (q = mcsolidΔT). According to thermochemistry, the relation between the amount of heat absorbed or released by a substance, q, and its...
Classifying Matter by State
States of Matter and Phase Changes
Heat Capacities of an Ideal Gas II
Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids

