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Steel changing states
Question: Could steel change from a solid to gas?
fairview
Answer:
Steel is a form of iron. Steel melts at about 1300 degrees Celsius
(2400 Fahrenheit). It's boiling point is about 3000 C (or 5400 F).
To generate that much heat would be astounding! Even when you get to
the boiling point, you would have to keep adding energy to vaporize
the steel. I haven't been able to come across a value for the amount
of heat needed for this either (called "delta H of vaporization"), but my
guess would be that it is very high since the vapor pressure of molten
steel is probably very low (vapor pressure is a measure of a liquid's
tendency to go to the gas phase). If your question meant can steel go
directly from solid to gas (which is called sublimation, what 'dry ice'
does), no.
-Joe Schultz
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Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs, Harold Myron, Ph.D., Division Director.