PHASE CHANGES OF PURE SUBSTANCES



Abstract

When materials undergo a phase transition at constant pressure the process is accompanied by the absorption or liberation of heat: the Heat of Transformation.
This experiment will study phase transitions in two pure substances, Indium metal and Water. Measurements will be made to determine the melting temperature and heat of transformation of the Indium at atmospheric pressure. For Water, the pressure dependence of the boiling point transition will be determined. The results obtained with these model systems will be used to explore the design of engineering devices that could incorporate phase changes in their performance.