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Sublimation Definition

Chemistry Glossary Terms

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com

These pellets of dry ice are sublimating in air.

These pellets of dry ice are sublimating in air.

Richard Wheeler
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Definition: the transition from the solid phase to the gas phase without passing through an intermediate liquid phase. This endothermic phase transition occurs at temperatures and pressures below the triple point.

Example: Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide. At room temperature and pressure, it sublimates into carbon dioxide vapor.

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