Our primary concern in this section is the difference in energy level between phases.Įnergy is added to melt a solid to form a liquid. Vapor molecules possess more energy than liquids (very active) and are less dense than liquids. Vapors do not have a definite volume or shape and will fill a container in which they are placed. By virtue of the energy, there is more space between molecules, and liquids are less dense than solids. Liquid molecules possess more energy than a solid (allows movement from place to another). Liquids assume the shape of the container but will not necessarily fill that container. Liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape. They are composed of molecules with very low energy that stay in one place even though they vibrate. Solids have a definite shape and are hard to the touch. The matter has three phases, the simplest example is water.
Phase defines any homogeneous and physically distinct part of a system that is separated from other parts of the system by definite bounding surfaces: Prediction and Inhibition of Gas Hydrates Bookīasics of Corrosion in Oil and Gas Industry Bookīefore studying the separation of gases and liquids, we need to understand the relationship between the phases. Fundamentals of Oil and Gas Processing Book