Iodine sublimes at room temperature and pressure; water does...

Iodine sublimes at room temperature and pressure; water does not. Explain the differences you would expect to observe at room temperature if $7.5$ grams of iodine crystals were sealed in a 10.-mL container and $7.5 \mathrm{~mL}$ of water were sealed in a similar container.

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Key Concepts

Sublimation

Sublimation is the process by which a solid turns directly into a gas without passing through the liquid phase. This occurs when the vapor pressure of the solid exceeds atmospheric pressure at a given temperature. Sublimation is a characteristic property of certain substances and is a key part of understanding phase transitions under specific conditions.

Vapor Pressure

Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by the vapor in equilibrium with its solid or liquid phase at a given temperature. A material with a high vapor pressure at room temperature tends to transition into the gas phase (sublime or evaporate) more readily, while substances with low vapor pressure remain in their condensed phase. This concept explains why some substances, like iodine, can sublime at room temperature whereas others, like water, do not.

Phase Equilibrium in Closed Systems

Phase equilibrium in a closed system refers to the balance between the phases (solid, liquid, and gas) of a substance when no additional mass is added or removed, and the rates of transition between phases are equal. In sealed containers, the substance’s vapor reaches a saturation level that is determined by its vapor pressure, thereby dictating whether a substance will predominantly remain in a condensed phase or form a significant amount of vapor.

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