Mercury has mp = -38.8 °C and bp = 356.6 °C. What,if any, phase changes take place under the following condi-tions at 1.0 atm pressure? (a) The temperature of a sample is raised from -30 °C to 365 °C.

Key Concepts

Phase Changes

Phase changes refer to the transitions between solid, liquid, and gas states of matter. These changes occur when a substance absorbs or releases energy, typically in the form of heat. For mercury, phase changes will occur at its melting point (-38.8 °C) and boiling point (356.6 °C), where it transitions from solid to liquid and from liquid to gas, respectively.

Melting Point and Boiling Point

The melting point is the temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid, while the boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid turns into a gas. For mercury, the melting point is -38.8 °C, meaning it will be in a solid state below this temperature, and the boiling point is 356.6 °C, indicating it will remain a liquid until this temperature is reached at 1.0 atm pressure.

Effect of Pressure on Phase Changes

Pressure can significantly influence the phase changes of substances. At 1.0 atm, the standard atmospheric pressure, mercury's phase transitions occur at its defined melting and boiling points. Understanding how pressure affects these points is crucial for predicting the state of mercury under varying temperature conditions, as higher pressures can raise boiling points and lower melting points.