Chapter 8: Problem 12

What is meant by a substance's condensation temperature? What role did condensation temperatures play in the formation of the planets?

Short Answer

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Condensation temperature is the point where a substance changes from gas to liquid due to cooling. This played a major role in planet formation, as materials with different condensation temperatures condensed in different regions of the nebula from which our Solar System formed, resulting in the distribution of materials we see in the current locations of planets.

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Understanding Condensation Temperature

Condensation temperature, also known as the dew point, is the temperature at which a substance changes from its gaseous state to a liquid state due to cooling. It is the temperature at which the gas becomes saturated and can no longer contain all of its water vapor, causing some of it to condense into liquid water.

Role of Condensation Temperature in Planet Formation

The role of condensation temperatures in the formation of planets concerns mainly the earliest stages of planet formation. During the formation of the Solar System, different materials were able to condense out of the nebula at different temperatures. This temperature, known as the condensation temperature, determined where in the nebula different types of materials could condense and aggregate to form the planetary bodies. The materials with high condensation temperatures, such as metals and silicate minerals, formed planets closer to the sun, while those with low condensation temperatures, such as ices, formed bodies further out.

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What is meant by a substance's condensation temperature? What role did condensation temperatures play in the formation of the planets?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Condensation Temperature

Role of Condensation Temperature in Planet Formation

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