Nov. 25th, 2003


Here's something really neat that I just learned. When the partial derivative of the pressure with respect to volume approaches zero, the isothermal compressibility approaches infinity and the fluctuation in density becomes very large. As a result, the scattering of light by this substance also becomes very large, occuring over a very broad range of frequencies. The condition of the vanished partial derivative occurs at the critical point of a substance. As a result, just about any liquid, even transparent or strangely colored ones, will at its critical point assume a milky white appearance. This is called "critical point opalescence."

Profile

lhexa

January 2012

S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
1516171819 2021
22232425262728
293031    

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 25th, 2025 09:03 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios