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School is just one simplification after the other (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 8 months ago by illectrility@sh.itjust.works to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] gandalf_der_12te@feddit.de 2 points 8 months ago

Like, water alone has like, five different phases IIRC.

Or was that helium?

[-] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 8 months ago

you might by confusing "solid phases" for states of matter.

If we draw a phase diagram you'll see shit like ice, ice 2: the cooler ice, ice 9: radical edition or whatever but they're all solid phases. The they just have different structures.

Sort of like lamp black and graphite are both forms of carbon but not really because that's got to do with distinct bonding. A better example, if you know your steels, is martensite vs autensite.

[-] gandalf_der_12te@feddit.de 1 points 8 months ago

Yeah, that could be.

Still, what about glass or thermoplasts, that have a fluid transition between solid and liquid?

[-] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 8 months ago

I dunno sorry, I never studied glasses. I'm gonna guess that it's probably not a true distinct phase and more likely a mix between various configurations, like a solid solution or sometimes. I'm just talking out my arse but.

It doesn't really matter, high level stuff like states of matter are pretty crude approximations anyway. Like yeah yeah you get enthalpy changes but that happens at all phase transitions so it's not exactly that special.