Re: mechanism of de-superheating water

On Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:00:09 -0800, Edward Green wrote:

I think you are making "supercritical" too mystical. It will not
"behave like steam" particularly (what does that mean?). It simply
happens that if we increase the pressure enough the phase transition
between water and steam disappears.

Well, I wouldn't say that was /pure/ doggerel. Its diffusion properties
more closely resemble dense gas than liquid, and if the pressure is
decreased it will expand evenly throughout its volume. The transition in
its electrical properties is a bit less apparent, but still measurable
(he says, doubtfully, thirty years after last reading any relevant
material).

Still, "disappearance of the phase transition" works for me.

(BTW, "Lofty Goat" is a joke, arising from a discussion with the author
of a children's science book. The Pan newsreader keeps changing it back
when I try to revert to my initials. Given that it's called "Pan", that
isn't so surprising.)
.