Physics Lens

Can a Liquid Freeze and Boil Simultaneously?

Witness the freezing and boiling of a liquid take place at the same time. A thorough explanation for this observation is found here.

Cyclohexane can both freeze and boil simultaneously under specific conditions when it is in a state known as triple point.

The triple point of a substance is the unique combination of temperature and pressure where all three phases (solid, liquid, and gas) coexist in equilibrium. For cyclohexane, at its triple point:

  • Temperature: Around 6.5°C
  • Pressure: Around 0.053 atm (40 mm Hg)

At this point, cyclohexane can freeze (turn from liquid to solid) and boil (turn from liquid to gas) simultaneously. This occurs because the conditions allow the substance to transition between all three phases at the same time. The energy added or removed from the system can cause some molecules to leave the liquid phase as a gas (boiling), while others enter the solid phase (freezing).

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