[ELI5] Can one physically compress water, like with a cyclinder of water with a hydraulic press on the top, completely water tight, pressing down on it, and what would happen to the water?
In: 1967
Not to a significant level. Liquids and solids are what are called the condensed states, which just means the molecules are really, really close together (unlike gases where the molecules are a long way apart). Liquids and solids aren’t compressible unless there’s a gas dispersed within them (e.g. you can squash a sponge but you’re pushing out air, you’re not squishing the solid molecules).
Not to a significant level. Liquids and solids are what are called the condensed states, which just means the molecules are really, really close together (unlike gases where the molecules are a long way apart). Liquids and solids aren’t compressible unless there’s a gas dispersed within them (e.g. you can squash a sponge but you’re pushing out air, you’re not squishing the solid molecules).
Not to a significant level. Liquids and solids are what are called the condensed states, which just means the molecules are really, really close together (unlike gases where the molecules are a long way apart). Liquids and solids aren’t compressible unless there’s a gas dispersed within them (e.g. you can squash a sponge but you’re pushing out air, you’re not squishing the solid molecules).
Most hydraulic machines cant, but if you were to apply enough pressure, it would turn into a solid (take up less space).
Ice normally takes up more room than water, but i guess you can consider it a new state.
https://www.livescience.com/1385-scientists-ice-hotter-boiling-water.html
It will slightly compress (like generally much less than a percent volume, something like 0.005 percent per atmosphere of pressurization; 50 parts per thousand decrease in volume). Eventually, like at really extreme pressures, you will get to the range where ice would form (not normal ice, which is less dense than liquid, but a special type of ice that only exists at extreme pressures).
There would also be some heating of the water from imposing pressure (it can’t compress so it heats up instead; work is being performed and the material isn’t responding, so the energy converts to heat-gotta go somewhere). Pressure would keep it as liquid though unless you have a really odd system (temp change would have to outrace pressure increase by quite a bit to cross into the gas stability zone before exceeding the critical point where gas and liquid are the same thing, which happens at about 375 degrees C and 220 atmospheres).
It will slightly compress (like generally much less than a percent volume, something like 0.005 percent per atmosphere of pressurization; 50 parts per thousand decrease in volume). Eventually, like at really extreme pressures, you will get to the range where ice would form (not normal ice, which is less dense than liquid, but a special type of ice that only exists at extreme pressures).
There would also be some heating of the water from imposing pressure (it can’t compress so it heats up instead; work is being performed and the material isn’t responding, so the energy converts to heat-gotta go somewhere). Pressure would keep it as liquid though unless you have a really odd system (temp change would have to outrace pressure increase by quite a bit to cross into the gas stability zone before exceeding the critical point where gas and liquid are the same thing, which happens at about 375 degrees C and 220 atmospheres).
It will slightly compress (like generally much less than a percent volume, something like 0.005 percent per atmosphere of pressurization; 50 parts per thousand decrease in volume). Eventually, like at really extreme pressures, you will get to the range where ice would form (not normal ice, which is less dense than liquid, but a special type of ice that only exists at extreme pressures).
There would also be some heating of the water from imposing pressure (it can’t compress so it heats up instead; work is being performed and the material isn’t responding, so the energy converts to heat-gotta go somewhere). Pressure would keep it as liquid though unless you have a really odd system (temp change would have to outrace pressure increase by quite a bit to cross into the gas stability zone before exceeding the critical point where gas and liquid are the same thing, which happens at about 375 degrees C and 220 atmospheres).
Lots of boring people in this comment section. Yes, water is technically “incompressible” and it would be very hard to do.
But that’s the most boring answer ever. This question is answerable!
So lets assume that OP has a perfect vacuum sealed hydraulic press. OP would apply more and more pressure, and eventually the water would be compressed into a kind of “warm ice”. Warm because it wouldn’t melt at room temperatures.
Lots of boring people in this comment section. Yes, water is technically “incompressible” and it would be very hard to do.
But that’s the most boring answer ever. This question is answerable!
So lets assume that OP has a perfect vacuum sealed hydraulic press. OP would apply more and more pressure, and eventually the water would be compressed into a kind of “warm ice”. Warm because it wouldn’t melt at room temperatures.
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