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Related Concept Videos

Phase Transitions02:31

Phase Transitions

23.3K
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...
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Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition02:33

Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition

20.4K
Some solids can transition directly into the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid state, via a process known as sublimation. At room temperature and standard pressure, a piece of dry ice (solid CO2) sublimes, appearing to gradually disappear without ever forming any liquid. Snow and ice sublimate at temperatures below the melting point of water, a slow process that may be accelerated by winds and the reduced atmospheric pressures at high altitudes. When solid iodine is warmed, the solid sublimes...
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Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing02:39

Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing

15.3K
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...
15.3K
Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation02:39

Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation

21.6K
The physical form of a substance changes on changing its temperature. For example, raising the temperature of a liquid causes the liquid to vaporize (convert into vapor). The process is called vaporization—a surface phenomenon. Vaporization occurs when the thermal motion of the molecules overcome the intermolecular forces, and the molecules (at the surface) escape into the gaseous state. When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules...
21.6K
Phase Diagrams02:39

Phase Diagrams

50.6K
A phase diagram combines plots of pressure versus temperature for the liquid-gas, solid-liquid, and solid-gas phase-transition equilibria of a substance. These diagrams indicate the physical states that exist under specific conditions of pressure and temperature and also provide the pressure dependence of the phase-transition temperatures (melting points, sublimation points, boiling points). Regions or areas labeled solid, liquid, and gas represent single phases, while lines or curves represent...
50.6K
Properties of Transition Metals02:58

Properties of Transition Metals

30.1K
Transition metals are defined as those elements that have partially filled d orbitals. As shown in Figure 1, the d-block elements in groups 3–12 are transition elements. The f-block elements, also called inner transition metals (the lanthanides and actinides), also meet this criterion because the d orbital is partially occupied before the f orbitals.
30.1K

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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Optogenetic Phase Transition of TDP-43 in Spinal Motor Neurons of Zebrafish Larvae
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Functional Implications of Intracellular Phase Transitions.

Alex S Holehouse1, Rohit V Pappu1

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems Engineering , Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis , Missouri 63130 , United States.

Biochemistry
|January 12, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Cellular environments contain complex structures called biomolecular condensates, which form through phase transitions. These transitions are crucial for various cellular functions, offering new insights into cell biology.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Intracellular environments are complex and heterogeneous.
  • These environments contain various assemblies, including membrane-bound organelles and membraneless biomolecular condensates.
  • Biomolecular condensates are nonstoichiometric assemblies of proteins and RNA that form distinct phases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide insights into recent studies on biomolecular condensates.
  • To offer a perspective on the role of phase transitions in forming these condensates.
  • To explore how these phase transitions contribute to cellular functions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies.
  • Analysis of phase transition mechanisms.
  • Perspective on cellular functions related to biomolecular condensates.

Main Results:

  • Biomolecular condensates form via intracellular phase transitions.
  • These condensates are dynamic and nonstoichiometric assemblies.
  • Phase transitions are integral to the formation and function of these cellular structures.

Conclusions:

  • Phase transitions are fundamental to the formation of biomolecular condensates.
  • Biomolecular condensates play significant roles in cellular functions.
  • Understanding these phase transitions offers new perspectives in cell biology.