Ch-5, Part-2: Water's Unique Properties and Phases

[ Ch-5 Main ]   [ Exam-2 Topics ]   [ Geog-100 Main ]

Study Figs 5-4 and 5-6 and know them inside and out!

Fig 5-4: The states of water and water phase changes

THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

  • Three states of water -- solid, liquid, gas [F 5-4, p 140, above]  
  • Processes of changes of states of water
    • Molecular activity; surface tension
      • Liquid water has molecules in motion
      • The warmer the water, the greater the motion
      • Some molecules take on enough energy to break through surface tension and become water vapor, a gas, in the atmosphere
      • There also are gaseous water molecules becoming liquid water or water ice, at the same time, depending upon the prevailing temperature
    • Melting/freezing -- solid-liquid-solid
      • "Hidden," latent heat leaves liquid water when it freezes into water ice and is released into the "environment"
      • Melting occurs when water ice absorbs enough energy to change to the liquid state.
      • Ice absorbing just enough energy to melt will become liquid water but still at the 32° F ice point temperature
      • The energy absorbed or released is called the latent heat of fusion
    • Evaporation/condensation: liquid-gas-liquid
      • Evaporation:  Liquid water transforms into gaseous water vapor by absorbing the latent heat of vaporization
        • Boiling water
        • A "mud" puddle disappears
      • Condensation occurs when water vapor releases the latent heat of vaporization through cooling and becomes liquid water
        • Mist on a bathroom mirror
        • "Fog" on the inside of automobile windows (really isn't fog)
        • Some clouds in the sky
    • Sublimation/Deposition/Sublimation: solid-gas-solid
      • In these two processes, the liquid state of water is bypassed
      • Sublimation occurs when water ice transforms directly into gaseous water vapor
        • Disappearance of snow and ice from sidewalks when the temperature remains below freezing
      • Deposition occurs when gaseous water vapor changes directly into water ice
        • Formation of high altitude cirrus clouds
        • Formation of low elevation clouds in winter cold
        • Formation of snow flakes
        • Frost on surface objects (grass, automobiles, etc.)

Fig 5-5c: Frost -- Delicate ice crystals deposited directly from water vapor

  • Storage or release of latent energy occurs with each change of state
  • Study the energy changes of Figure 5-6.

Fig 5-6: Latent heat gains and losses with changes of state of water

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