50 Examples of Sublimation >Direct, Reverse, Daily Life

Sublimation is a chemical and physical process in which a substance goes directly from the solid state to the gaseous state, without going through the liquid state or from the gaseous state to the solid without going through the state liquid. This phenomenon is relevant in chemistry and in everyday life, since it is present in various processes and applications.

Chemical sublimation is a process influenced by multiple factors, including temperature, pressure, surface area, relative humidity, purity of the substance, and conditions environmental.

Types of chemical sublimation

1. direct sublimation

It occurs when a solid substance is transformed directly into a gas, without going through the liquid state.

2. reverse sublimation

Also known as deposition, it is the opposite process to direct sublimation. In this case, a substance in a gaseous state turns directly into a solid.

20 examples of sublimation in everyday life

1. Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide): It is a common example of sublimation. When dry ice is exposed to air, it transforms into carbon dioxide gas without going through a liquid state.
2. Iodine: Iodine is an element that undergoes sublimation when heated. It goes from the solid state to the gaseous state, forming a purple vapor.
3. Naphthalene: Used to protect clothing from moths, mothballs slowly sublimate, releasing vapors that repel the insects.
4. Freeze Dried Coffee: Freeze-dried coffee is an example of sublimation in the food industry. The freeze-drying process involves the rapid removal of water through sublimation, preserving the flavor and aroma of the coffee.
5. Garment printing: Sublimation is used in the technique of printing on garments, where the ink is turned into a gas and penetrates the fabric, creating a high-quality, durable design.
6. Snow and ice: In cold, dry climates, snow and ice can sublimate directly into water vapor, bypassing the liquid state.
7. Sulfur anhydride: Sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound used in food preservation, can sublime at room temperature.
8. Fresh air: Cool mountain air is the result of the sublimation of ice and snow at high altitudes, which release moisture into the air and purify it.
9. Water purification: Sublimation can be used to purify contaminated water by evaporating it under controlled conditions and capturing the pure vapor.
10. Dried flowers: Sublimation is used in the dried flower industry to remove water from flowers without affecting their appearance and color.
11. solid air fresheners: Solid air fresheners work by sublimating their aromatic components, releasing pleasant fragrances into the air.
12. Stick deodorants: Some stick deodorants use substances that sublimate slowly and release antimicrobial compounds or fragrances that neutralize bad odors.
13. Astronaut ice cream: Freeze-dried ice cream is an example of sublimation applied to food. The water is removed from the ice cream by sublimation, which allows its conservation without the need for refrigeration.
14. Air purification: Some air purification systems use sublimation to remove contaminants and odors from the environment, by causing polluting particles to adhere to a solid material that is subsequently sublimates.
15. camphor: Camphor, a solid compound that sublimes at room temperature, is used in personal care products and as an insect repellent.
16. Dehumidification: In areas with high humidity, sublimation can be used to remove excess moisture from the air, by causing water to sublimate directly from the air and condense on a surface cold.
17. Dry ice blasting: Dry ice blasting uses dry ice to remove dirt, paint, or contaminants from surfaces by sublimation, which prevents damage to the surface and minimizes the use of products chemicals.
18. Spray paint: Some paint sprays contain solvents that sublimate quickly, making paint application easier and drying faster.
19. Ice rink maintenance: Ice conditioning machines, such as Zambonis, use sublimation to keep the surface of ice rinks in optimal condition. These machines scrape and level the surface of the ice and apply a thin layer of water that sublimates quickly, creating a smooth, even surface.
20. Glaciers and ice formations: In cold, high-altitude regions, sublimation plays an important role in the formation and movement of glaciers and in the formation of ice structures such as penitents and seracs. These phenomena occur when ice and snow sublimate and deposit in other areas, giving rise to unique and spectacular formations.

10 examples of direct sublimation

1. Dry Ice: Dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas without going through the liquid phase.
2. Iodine: Solid iodine turns into purple vapors when heated.
3. Camphor: Solid camphor slowly evaporates into air and turns into a gas.
4. Naphthalene: Mothballs slowly evaporate into the air, releasing a characteristic odor.
5. Solid Nitrogen: Solid nitrogen is converted to nitrogen gas under certain conditions of low temperature and pressure.
6. Solid Ammonia: Solid ammonia is converted to ammonia gas under certain conditions of low temperature and pressure.
7. Arsenic: Solid arsenic transforms into arsenic vapor at high temperatures without going through the liquid phase.
8. Silver Chloride: Solid silver chloride converts to silver chloride vapors at high temperatures.
9. Benzene: Benzene in solid form changes to benzene vapors at low temperatures.
10. Benzoic Acid: Solid benzoic acid transforms into benzoic acid vapors on gentle heating.

10 examples of reverse sublimation

1. Frost: Water vapor in the air turns to ice on cold windows and surfaces without going through the liquid phase.
2. Dry Ice Deposition: Carbon dioxide gas transforms into dry ice without going through the liquid phase.
3. Iodine Crystals: Iodine vapors cool and form solid iodine crystals.
4. Naphthalene: Naphthalene vapors condense and form solid naphthalene crystals.
5. Solid Nitrogen: Nitrogen gas converts to solid nitrogen under certain conditions of low temperature and pressure.
6. Solid Ammonia: Ammonia gas converts to solid ammonia under certain conditions of low temperature and pressure.
7. Arsenic: Arsenic vapors are cooled and become solid arsenic without going through the liquid phase.
8. Silver Chloride: Silver chloride vapors cool to form solid silver chloride.
9. Benzene: Benzene vapors cool and form solid benzene crystals.
10. Benzoic Acid: Benzoic acid vapors cool and turn into solid benzoic acid.

10 examples of sublimation in the industry

1. Lyophilization in the pharmaceutical industry: Sublimation is used in freeze-drying medicines, such as vaccines, antibiotics, and hormones, to preserve their efficacy and long-term stability.
2. Production of integrated circuits: The semiconductor industry uses sublimation to deposit ultra-thin layers of materials on integrated circuits, improving their performance and efficiency.
3. Manufacture of OLED screens: Sublimation is used in the manufacture of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, in which thin layers of organic compounds are deposited by vacuum sublimation.
4. Protective Coatings: Sublimation is used in the application of protective coatings, such as those based on compounds silicon, to improve resistance to corrosion and wear in metal parts and other materials.
5. Pigment production: Sublimation is used in the production of high-purity pigments, such as white phosphorus and titanium dioxide, which are used in the manufacture of paints and plastics.
6. Creation of nanomaterials: Sublimation is a technique used in the synthesis of nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene, which have applications in electronics, energy, and medicine.
7. Recovery of precious metals: Sublimation is used in the recovery of precious metals, such as gold and silver, from electronic components and other waste through purification and refining processes.
8. Textile industry: Sublimation is used in digital textile printing, in which dyes are sublimated and penetrate the fibers of the fabric, creating resistant and durable designs.
9. Manufacture of optical glass: Sublimation is used in the purification of materials used in the manufacture of high-quality optical glass, such as calcium fluoride, which is used in lenses and prisms.
10. Refrigeration and air conditioning industry: Sublimation is used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems that use solid materials that change materials, such as phase change materials (PCMs), to store and release thermal energy efficiently.

10 substances that can be sublimated

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2): In its solid form, known as dry ice, carbon dioxide can easily sublime at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, turning directly into a gaseous state.

2. Iodine (I2): Solid iodine can sublime when gently heated, forming dark purple iodine vapors bypassing the liquid phase.

3. Solid nitrogen (N2): Although less common than dry ice, solid nitrogen can also sublime under certain conditions of low temperature and pressure.

4. Ammonia (NH3): Although it is normally in a gaseous state at room temperature, solid ammonia can sublime under conditions of low temperature and pressure.

5. Camphor (C10H16O): Camphor is a solid compound that slowly sublimes at room temperature, releasing vapors with a characteristic odor.

6. Naphthalene (C10H8): Naphthalene, commonly known as naphthalene, is a solid compound that slowly sublimes at room temperature, releasing vapors with a characteristic odor.

7. Arsenic (As): Arsenic is a chemical element that can sublimate at higher temperatures, around 615 °C, without going through the liquid phase.

8. Benzene (C6H6): Although benzene is a liquid at room temperature, it can sublime when it is in the form of solid crystals at lower temperatures.

9. Silver Chloride (AgCl): Silver chloride is a solid compound that can sublime at high temperatures (around 400 °C), going directly to the gaseous state without going through the liquid phase.

10. Benzoic acid (C6H5COOH): Benzoic acid is a solid compound that can sublime when gently heated, bypassing the liquid phase.

Factors Affecting Sublimation

1. Temperature: Temperature is one of the most important factors affecting sublimation. As the temperature increases, the molecules of a solid substance gain energy and move faster, making it easier to transition to the gaseous state. At lower temperatures, sublimation will be slower or may not occur at all.
2. Pressure: Pressure also plays a crucial role in sublimation. At low pressure, molecules on the surface of a solid can escape to the gaseous state more easily. At higher pressures, it is harder for the molecules to escape and sublimation may be slower or not occur at all.
3. Superficial area: The greater the surface area, the more molecules are exposed to the environment, which facilitates the transition to the gaseous state. Therefore, sublimation can be faster in substances with a larger surface area.
4. RH: The relative humidity of the surrounding environment can influence sublimation. Under low humidity conditions, sublimation can occur more quickly, since there are fewer water molecules in the air to compete with the molecules that sublimate. In humid environments, sublimation may be slower due to the presence of more water molecules in the air.
5. Substance purity: The presence of impurities in a solid substance can affect the rate of sublimation.
6. Environmental conditions: Factors such as wind and solar radiation can also affect sublimation. Wind can speed up sublimation by increasing the rate of heat transfer and rapidly removing the sublimated molecules from the surface of the solid. Solar radiation can provide additional energy for sublimation, especially in substances that absorb sunlight well.

chemical sublimation experiment

Separation of salt and iodine

We have a mixture of sodium chloride (common salt) and iodine. To separate them in the laboratory, the following material is used:

1 lighter
1 grid
1 flask
1 watch glass

Ice:

The iodine salt mixture is placed in the flask, covered with the watch glass, on which ice is placed. The mixture is heated in the burner and a purplish vapor will begin to be released.

This is sublimated iodine, which has gone from a solid to a gaseous state. When this gas touches the watch glass that is at a low temperature, it is deposited, forming solid crystals of iodine. This is reverse sublimation.