Which Sentence Describes an Example of Sublimation?

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Sublimation might sound complex, but it’s a natural process you can see daily. Sublimation is when a solid changes directly into a gas without becoming a liquid first. Let’s include examples, interesting facts, and science news.

What Is a Good Example of Sublimation?

One of the most well-known examples of sublimation is dry ice. Dry ice, made of frozen carbon dioxide, transforms directly from a solid into carbon dioxide gas when exposed to room temperature. If you’ve ever seen that smoky fog effect at parties or in science demonstrations, that’s sublimation in action!

Other examples include:

Snow disappearing without melting on a sunny but freezing day.
Air fresheners that shrink over time, releasing their fragrance into the air.
Iodine crystals, which when heated, change directly into a violet gas.

Dry ice does not turn into a liquid when it is exposed to atmospheric conditions. Instead, it turns directly into gas.

The reason why this happens is because dry ice has a lower sublimation point, which is at -78.5°C (-109.3°F) under normal atmospheric pressure.

Dry ice’s usefulness is based on its properties, which include:

A scientific illustration of dry ice transitioning from solid to gas, showing a partially sublimated ice block emitting mist and labeled as carbon dioxide (CO₂) at -78.5°C.

Refrigeration: Keeping items cold during shipping without leaving liquid residue.
Special effects: Creating dense fog in theaters or parties when exposed to water.
Scientific demonstrations: To showcase sublimation as a physical change.

Here are 4 more examples of sublimation:

If you heat iodine gently, it doesn’t melt into a liquid but instead changes directly from a solid to a purple vapor. The reason for this is that iodine’s triple point is outside of typical atmospheric conditions. Once the vapor cools, it can rehydrate directly from the gas phase.

The primary ingredient in mothballs, naphthalene, sublimates at room temperature. This sublimation produces a gas that repels moths and other pests. This is why mothballs shrink over time without leaving a liquid residue.

In very cold, dry climates, snow or ice can sublimate directly into water vapor without melting. This often happens in high-altitude areas or during sunny, windy days in the winter when the air is dry.

In freezers, ice crystals that form on the surface of frozen food or within its packaging can sublimate over time, leading to freezer burn. This process removes moisture from the food, altering its texture and flavor.

Sublimation Sentence Examples

Each sentence highlights different real-life moments when sublimation occurs, helping you easily spot the process. It helps to see how sublimation is used in context. Check example sentences:

The dry ice sublimated rapidly, leaving no puddle behind.
On cold, sunny days, snow sublimates, disappearing without melting.
The solid air freshener sublimates slowly over weeks, leaving no residue.

Which Sentence Describes an Example of Sublimation Class?

In a class discussion, you might encounter a question like:

“Which sentence describes an example of sublimation?”
An ideal answer could be:
“The block of dry ice disappeared, turning directly into gas without any liquid.”

Sorting Energy Transfer Processes

Let’s compare sublimation to other energy-related changes to gain a better understanding. To transform the solid into a gas, energy absorption is necessary to break molecular bonds during sublimation. This is similar to melting, but not the same as the processes like freezing, which generate energy.

📊 Process	⚡ Energy Transfer	🔄 Phase Change
🔥 Melting	↑ Absorbs energy	Solid → Liquid 🫠
❄️ Freezing	↓ Releases energy	Liquid → Solid 🧊
☁️ Sublimation	↑↑ Absorbs energy	Solid → Gas 💨

▲ = Energy Inflow ▼ = Energy Release

Sublimation is considered an endothermic reaction that absorbs energy when sorting processes based on energy transfer.

Sublimation Through Real-Life Examples

Winter Frost:
- Imagine a crisp winter morning with frost on the grass and trees.
- As the sun rises, the frost disappears without melting into water.
- Example Sentence: “The frost on the grass disappeared directly into the air as vapor when the sun rose.”
Dry Ice:
- Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide.
- At room temperature, it changes directly into carbon dioxide gas.
- Used for creating calm, smoky effects at parties and in stage shows.

A man operates a color sublimation printer in a modern home, surrounded by contemporary decor and vibrant printed items.

Why Does Sublimation Happen?

Sublimation occurs under specific conditions, typically low pressure or when heat is applied to allow the solid to become a gas. Here’s a quick overview:

Condition	Description
💨 Low Pressure	↘️ Reduces the energy needed for molecules to escape solid form
🔥 Heat Application	↗️ Provides the energy required for the solid to transition directly to gas

↘️ = Energy Reduction ↗️ = Energy Input

Practical Applications of Sublimation

Food Preservation:
- Freeze-Drying:
  - Food is frozen and then placed under low pressure.
  - The frozen water in the food sublimates, preserving the food’s structure and nutritional content.
High-Purity Chemical Manufacturing:
- Purification:
  - Sublimation can purify substances since impurities usually do not sublimate.
  - This process separates the desired material from impurities.

A block of dry ice sublimating. — Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide. As it melts, it skips the liquid stage and goes straight from a solid to a gas. This process is called sublimation.

Interesting Facts

Fascinating Frost:
- Frost sublimation occurs because the sun’s energy provides enough heat for the ice to turn directly into vapor.
Dry Ice Details:
- Dry ice sublimates at -78.5°C (-109.3°F), making it perfect for creating fog effects without leaving any liquid residue.

Sublimation in the News

Advancements in Freeze-Drying Technology:
- Recent innovations have made freeze-drying more efficient and affordable, benefiting the food industry and pharmaceuticals.
Environmental Impact of Dry Ice:
- Researchers are exploring eco-friendly alternatives to dry ice in various industries to reduce carbon footprints.

A beautiful woman wearing sublimation dress with smiling face.

Which Sentence Describes an Example of Sublimation Brain or Qui?

Questions on sublimation often appear in quizzes (or “qui” for short) and learning apps, requiring quick thinking. Example questions might ask:

“Martina has a sample of dry ice that disappears without melting. Which sentence best describes this process?”
The answer: “The dry ice sublimates, transforming directly from a solid to a gas.”

This response shows how sublimation applies in real-world contexts, making it easy for students like Martina to grasp the concept.

What Happens to Water When It Changes to Ice?

Water undergoes freezing when it changes from liquid to solid, which is the opposite of sublimation. Freezing involves the release of energy, while sublimation requires energy absorption. Both are phase changes but involve different energy flows.

Other Related Investigations

When working on science projects, you might encounter questions like:

“Which property of a substance can be determined using a pH indicator?”
pH indicators measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, giving insight into the substance’s chemical properties.
“Lyndon is investigating whether putting plastic on a cold surface changes temperature readings.”
This experiment would involve studying heat transfer, similar to how we analyze sublimation through energy absorption.

Comparing Sublimation to Other Phase Changes

Sublimation vs. Melting and Freezing

Sublimation

Sublimation: Transition from solid to gas, skipping the liquid phase.
Energy Requirement: Solid gains enough energy to bypass both solid and liquid intermolecular forces.
Example: Dry ice (solid CO₂) sublimates directly into carbon dioxide gas.

Melting

Melting: Process where a solid turns into a liquid.
Energy Requirement: Requires energy to break solid-state bonds, but not enough to reach the gas phase.
Example: Ice melting into liquid water.

In short, while melting involves an intermediary liquid phase, sublimation skips this phase entirely.

Why Freezing Is the Opposite of Sublimation

Freezing is indeed the opposite of sublimation, and here’s why:

Freezing converts a liquid into a solid by removing heat, causing the particles to slow down and form a rigid structure.
Sublimation works in reverse, where a solid gains heat to jump directly to the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid phase altogether.

In essence, freezing is a loss of energy to enter a more structured phase (solid), while sublimation requires a gain in energy to move to a less structured phase (gas).

Sublimation vs. Deposition

Reverse Process: Deposition Defined

Deposition: The reverse of sublimation, where gas turns directly into a solid.
No Liquid Phase: Skips the liquid state entirely.
Example: Frost forms on windows as water vapor loses energy and becomes ice.

When Does Deposition Occur?

Conditions for Deposition: Happens at low temperatures and high pressure.
Energy Loss: Gas molecules lose energy and condense directly into a solid.
Natural Occurrence: Common in below-freezing environments, where water vapor forms ice crystals directly.

Key Differences Table:

🌡️ Phase Change	🔄 Transition	⚡ Energy Requirement	🔬 Example
☁️ Sublimation	Solid → Gas ⏫	🔥↑ Heat gain (endothermic)	Dry ice → CO₂ gas 🧊➡️💨
🫠 Melting	Solid → Liquid ⬆️	🔥↑ Heat gain (endothermic)	Ice → water ❄️➡️💧
🧊 Freezing	Liquid → Solid ⏬	❄️↓ Heat loss (exothermic)	Water → ice 💧➡️❄️
🌫️ Deposition	Gas → Solid ⏬	❄️↓ Heat loss (exothermic)	Water vapor → frost 💨➡️🌨️

🔥↑ = Endothermic Process ❄️↓ = Exothermic Process ⏫ = Direct Transition

FAQs

When a solid changes directly into a gas without passing through the liquid state.

A phase transition in which a substance goes from a solid state directly to a gaseous state, bypassing the liquid phase.

Yes, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) changes directly into carbon dioxide gas at room temperature.

Yes, under certain conditions, substances like snow and ice can sublimate, especially in cold, dry, and windy environments.

Yes, solid air fresheners often sublimate, releasing fragrance into the air without leaving a liquid residue.

Temperature, pressure, and the nature of the substance influence the rate and occurrence of sublimation.

Yes, sublimation is used in freeze-drying foods and in certain printing techniques, like dye-sublimation printing.

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Have you ever noticed sublimation around you? How do you think it could benefit your personal or professional projects? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

University of California – Santa Barbara: ScienceLine on Sublimation
https://scienceline.ucsb.edu Explains the physics of sublimation and real-world examples like dry ice and iodine.

Which Sentence Describes an Example of Sublimation?

What Is a Good Example of Sublimation?

Sublimation Sentence Examples

Which Sentence Describes an Example of Sublimation Class?