freezing
Quick Summary
Freezing is the phase change where a liquid transforms into a solid. This occurs at a specific temperature known as the freezing point. For pure substances, this temperature is the same as the melting point. The process requires the removal of heat, known as the heat of fusion, from the liquid to allow it to solidify. Some liquids can be cooled below their freezing point without solidifying, a state called supercooling.1
Sublimation is a related phase change where a substance transitions directly from a solid to a gas, bypassing the liquid state entirely. A common example is dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide that turns into a gas at -78.5 °C (-109.3 °F). This process is utilized in techniques like freeze-drying.23
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