Deposition

Definition

Deposition is the phase transition in which a gas turns directly into a solid, bypassing the liquid state. This process releases energy and occurs under specific temperature and pressure conditions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Deposition is an exothermic process, meaning it releases heat.
2. Common examples of deposition include frost formation and snowflakes forming in clouds.
3. Deposition occurs when the temperature is low enough to prevent a substance from entering the liquid phase and instead transitions directly to solid.
4. The reverse process of deposition is sublimation, where a solid turns directly into a gas.
5. Deposition is important in various industrial applications, such as the formation of thin films in semiconductor manufacturing.

Review Questions

• What phase transition describes a gas turning directly into a solid?
• Is deposition an endothermic or exothermic process?
• Give an example of where you might observe deposition occurring in nature.

Related terms

Sublimation:

The phase transition in which a solid turns directly into a gas, bypassing the liquid state.

Phase Transition:

A change from one state (solid, liquid, gas) to another without changing the chemical composition.

Exothermic Process: A chemical reaction or physical change that releases heat to its surroundings.