The process by which ammonium chloride changes directly from a solid into a gas is called sublimation.
Understanding Sublimation of Ammonium Chloride
When ammonium chloride ($\text{NH}_4\text{Cl}$) is heated, it undergoes a physical change known as sublimation. Unlike most substances that first melt into a liquid and then evaporate into a gas when heated, ammonium chloride can transition directly from its solid state to a gaseous state under specific conditions, particularly when heated.
As the provided reference states: "Thus, sublimation is the process during which when ammonium chloride changes from a solid to a gas when it is heated." This highlights that heating is a key factor in facilitating this transition for ammonium chloride.
Phase Transitions
Typically, matter transitions through distinct phases:
- Melting: Solid to Liquid
- Boiling/Evaporation: Liquid to Gas
- Condensation: Gas to Liquid
- Freezing: Liquid to Solid
- Deposition: Gas to Solid
- Sublimation: Solid to Gas
Ammonium chloride's direct leap from solid to gas bypasses the liquid phase, making its sublimation a notable physical property often demonstrated in chemistry experiments.
