A note on producing supercooled water in a teaching laboratory

Authors

  • Isamar Zarco-Delgado Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa
  • H. N. Núñez-Yépez Universidad Autónoma Metroolitana Unidad Iztapalapa
  • A. L. Salas-Brito Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Azcapotzalco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31349/RevMexFisE.18.020210

Keywords:

metastable states, supercooled water, undergraduate laboratories

Abstract

As we lower the temperature of water at a certain point it changes from liquid to solid. Yet under certain conditions it is possible to keep the water in a non-equilibrium, liquid-like phase, called \emph{supercooled water}, thus avoiding solidification. Water in such state may freeze under the slightless perturbation, as stirring it a little. The existence of supercooled water is usually known to the students since the introductory courses, but it seems to be difficult to attest in an elementary undergraduate laboratory. A simple method for supercooling water is, however, readily available. It is this short paper aim to describe such a method in a form that may be readily performed in a teaching laboratory.

Author Biographies

Isamar Zarco-Delgado, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa

Departamento de Física, estudiante

H. N. Núñez-Yépez, Universidad Autónoma Metroolitana Unidad Iztapalapa

Departamento de Física, Profesora Titular

A. L. Salas-Brito, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Azcapotzalco

Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Área de Física Teórica y Materia Condensada, Profesor Investigador Titular C

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Published

2021-07-02

How to Cite

[1]
I. Zarco-Delgado, H. N. Núñez-Yépez, and A. L. Salas-Brito, “A note on producing supercooled water in a teaching laboratory”, Rev. Mex. Fis. E, vol. 18, no. 2 Jul-Dec, pp. 020210 1–, Jul. 2021.

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 Jul-Dec (2021): Revista Mexicana de Física E

Section

02 Education in Physics

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Isamar Zarco-Delgado, H. N. Núñez-Yépez, A. L. Salas-Brito

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Authors retain copyright and grant the Revista Mexicana de Física E right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.