It is my understanding that when ice cubes “shrink” in the freezer over time, it is due to sublimation. How does sublimation work exactly? What causes the change in state?
In: Chemistry
It works the same as a glass of water evaporating even though it is below its boiling point. There is always a vapor pressure which is kind of a measure of how badly a liquid or solid wants to turn into a gas.
When the vapor pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure, you get boiling. But ultimately, unless you have a perfectly sealed vessel, the substance will continue to have molecules turn gaseous and fly away.
Even metals and what not will have vapor pressures, but they would be so stupidly low that I can’t adequately fathom it. Like 1 atom out of trillions upon trillions per year or something silly.
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