• OutlierBlue
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    23
    ·
    11 months ago

    H2O molecules can be in several different states at 0°C. The first picture depicts ice at 0°C, but you can also have water and water vapour at 0°C too.

    • Troy
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      17
      ·
      11 months ago

      Water vapour isn’t really applicable here, unless you’re talking about very low pressures. Although you could consider it a component in a mixed gas, it’s not really gaseous water. The true gaseous form of water is steam. Water vapour is more like water that has been dissolved in the atmosphere.

      By analogy: sugar is solid at room temperature. But you can dissolve it in water. Have you converted the sugar into a liquid? No. Because sugar is a liquid only at temperatures above 160°C. But the resulting mixture is liquid.

      • OutlierBlue
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        9
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        Agreed that vapour doesn’t really play in to this, but I knew if I didn’t mention it someone would come in and ‘correct’ me. So I included it, and someone still came in and ‘corrected’ me.

        My main point, that I didn’t make very well, is that I wanted to ‘correct’ the meme that both ice and liquid water can be at 0°C.

        Technically correct is the best kind of correct.

        • Troy
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          ·
          11 months ago

          Best way to start a conversation on the internet is to be nearly correct. ;)