The fact that water on Earth can readily be found in all three states (solid, liquid, and gas) is in part a consequence of the fact that the triple point of water (T = 0.01 °C, P = 0.006 atm) falls within a range of temperatures and pressures found on Earth. Saturn’s largest moon Titan has a considerable amount of methane in its atmosphere. The conditions on the surface of Titan are estimated to be P = 1.6 atm and T = -178 °C. As seen from the phase diagram of methane (Figure 11.30), these conditions are not far from the triple point of methane, raising the tantalizing possibility that solid, liquid, and gaseous methane can be found on Titan. (a) In what state would you expect to find methane on the surface of Titan? (b) On moving upward through the atmosphere the pressure will decrease. If we assume that the temperature does not change, what phase change would you expect to see as we move away from the surface?
The fact that water on Earth can readily be found in all three states (solid, liquid, and gas) is in part a consequence of the fact that the triple point of water (T = 0.01 °C, P = 0.006 atm) falls within a range of temperatures and pressures found on Earth. Saturn’s largest moon Titan has a considerable amount of methane in its atmosphere. The conditions on the surface of Titan are estimated to be P = 1.6 atm and T = -178 °C. As seen from the phase diagram of methane (Figure 11.30), these conditions are not far from the triple point of methane, raising the tantalizing possibility that solid, liquid, and gaseous methane can be found on Titan. (a) In what state would you expect to find methane on the surface of Titan? (b) On moving upward through the atmosphere the pressure will decrease. If we assume that the temperature does not change, what phase change would you expect to see as we move away from the surface?
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