Question

Explain the role of (a) temperature and (b) pressure in the Interconversion of States of matter.

Answer 1

Part (a): Role of Temperature in the interconversion of state

• Temperature directly affects the kinetic energy of interatomic particles. As the temperature of the system increases, the kinetic energy increases and vice-versa.
• Due to an increase in kinetic energy, internuclear particles have sufficient energy to overcome the energy barrier to break bonds and start converting from solid to liquid and liquid to gas.
• So, in this way temperature controls the interconversion of states of matter.

$Solid\stackrel{Temperatureincreases}{\to }Liquid\stackrel{Temperatureincreases}{\to }Gas$

Part (b): Role of Pressure in the interconversion of state

• Pressure directly affects the movement of interatomic particles. As the pressure of the system increases, the interatomic particle is restricted to move and vice-versa.
• Due to a decrease in the movement of internuclear particles, they start settling down and start converting from gas to liquid and liquid to solid.
• So, in this way pressure controls the interconversion of states of matter.

$Gas\stackrel{Pressureincreases}{\to }Liquid\stackrel{Pressureincreases}{\to }Solid$