Pure substances, phase transitions continuous

In this volume, we will apply the principles developed in Principles and Applications to the description of topics of interest to chemists, such as effects of surfaces and gravitational and centrifugal fields phase equilibria of pure substances (first order and continuous transitions) (vapor + liquid), (liquid 4-liquid), (solid + liquid), and (fluid -f fluid) phase equilibria of mixtures chemical equilibria and properties of both nonelectrolyte and electrolyte mixtures. But do not expect a detailed survey of these topics. This, of course, would require a volume of immense breadth and depth. Instead, representative examples are presented to develop general principles that can then be applied to a wide variety of systems. 

Chapters 13 and 14 use thermodynamics to describe and predict phase equilibria. Chapter 13 limits the discussion to pure substances. Distinctions are made between first-order and continuous phase transitions, and examples are given of different types of continuous transitions, including the (liquid + gas) critical phase transition, order-disorder transitions involving position disorder, rotational disorder, and magnetic effects the helium normal-superfluid transition and conductor-superconductor transitions. Modem theories of phase transitions are described that show the parallel properties of the different types of continuous transitions, and demonstrate how these properties can be described with a general set of critical exponents. This discussion is an attempt to present to chemists the exciting advances made in the area of theories of phase transitions that is often relegated to physics tests. 

A phase transition of a pure substance is a change over time in which there is a continuous transfer of the substance from one phase to another. Eventually one phase can... 

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