What is Sublimation with Examples? [Class 9,10th,11th]

Sublimation is the process by which a solid or liquid substance is converted into a gaseous substance, without going through the liquid or solid state. It is a physical process of conversion that occurs when heat is applied to a substance. In this process, the substance is heated to its melting point and then rapidly cooled, causing a phase change to take place (the melting point is the point at which the solid and liquid phases merge into a single phase body).

Sublimation printers allow for a wide range of different media to be used, such as paper, fabric, metal, and plastic. This process differs from digital printing in that it uses heat and pressure to transfer the ink or dye from the printing plate to the substrate. The print is then fixed in place by heat and pressure from the sublimation process. This process can also be used for promotional items, such as t-shirts and sweatshirts.

Factors that Affect Sublimation:

Sublimation Several factors affect sublimation, including temperature, pressure, purity of the substance, and surface area.

• Higher temperatures and lower pressures favor sublimation.
• The purity of the substance being sublimated is also crucial, as impurities can hinder the process.
• Finally, increasing the surface area of the substance can also increase the rate of sublimation.

Uses of Sublimation

Sublimation has numerous uses in various fields.

• In analytical chemistry, sublimation is often used in chromatography to separate and identify different components of a mixture.
• Sublimation is also used in the production of high-purity materials such as metals, semiconductors, and ceramics in materials science.
• In engineering, sublimation is used in 3D printing and other additive manufacturing processes to create intricate shapes and structures.

Examples of sublimation

Example1: Dry Ice

When dry ice sublimes, it emits a high temperature gas called carbon dioxide gas that is far more dangerous.

Example2: Naphthalene balls

Naphthalene balls are a great alternative to conventional incense sticks. They’re also a great way to get rid of unwanted smells, such as cigar smoke. When you expose the naphthalene to heat, it releases a mixture of chemicals, including benzene, toluene, and xylene, which act as the active ingredients in typical incense sticks.

Example3: Frost formation

Frost formation is the process of clear ice crystals forming in cold, humid air. It has been observed in the process of freezing fog, frost formation caused by the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere. The process is important in atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics.

Example4: Ammonium chloride

When ammonium chloride is heated, it decomposes into elemental chlorine gas and ammonium chloride.

Example5: Iodine

When iodine is heated, it forms a gas that has a strong, unpleasant smell. It is one of a few toxic gases that are flammable. Iodine is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas.

Example 6: Dry snow

When snow falls in cold and dry conditions, the water vapor in the air is immediately frozen into ice crystals without melting into liquid first. This process is known as “dry snow” and can result in very light, powdery snow.

Example 7: Freeze-dried food

Freeze-drying is a process that removes moisture from food by sublimating the ice crystals directly into water vapor, leaving the food dry and shelf-stable.

Example 8: Camphor

Camphor is a white, waxy substance that can sublime at room temperature. It is commonly used in religious rituals and as a moth repellent.

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