How do we define sublimation and boiling?

1 Answer
anor277
May 2, 2017

NO! I take it that you mean that #"the sublimation point of solids"# # "is higher than the boiling point of LIQUIDS"#.

Explanation:

By definition, the boiling point is the temperature at which the VAPOUR PRESSURE of the LIQUID IS EQUAL to the AMBIENT PRESSURE, AND BUBBLES of VAPOUR FORM DIRECTLY in the LIQUID. The #"normal boiling point"# is when the ambient pressure is #1*atm#. Of course we cannot compare the sublimation point of a given material with its boiling point because DIFFERENT conditions of pressure apply.

Sorry for all the shouting! But the truth is you must specify both a temperature and a pressure. And we cannot speak of the boiling point of a solid; solids transfer into the gas phase by #"sublimation."#

Related questions
See all questions in Properties of Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Impact of this question
2845 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License