Select initial and final states of matter to instantly find the scientific name, energy direction, and real-world examples of any phase transition
Click on any arrow to identify the transition
Select initial and final states to get the scientific name
Choose the initial and final states of matter to identify the phase transition.
| From | To | Name | Energy | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid | Liquid | Melting (Fusion) | 🔥 Endothermic | Ice → Water |
| Liquid | Solid | Freezing | ❄️ Exothermic | Water → Ice |
| Liquid | Gas | Vaporization | 🔥 Endothermic | Water → Steam |
| Gas | Liquid | Condensation | ❄️ Exothermic | Steam → Water drops |
| Solid | Gas | Sublimation | 🔥 Endothermic | Dry ice → CO₂ gas |
| Gas | Solid | Deposition | ❄️ Exothermic | Frost forming |
| Gas | Plasma | Ionization | 🔥 Endothermic | Lightning, neon signs |
| Plasma | Gas | Recombination | ❄️ Exothermic | Plasma cooling |
Melting (solid→liquid), freezing (liquid→solid), vaporization (liquid→gas), condensation (gas→liquid), sublimation (solid→gas), and deposition (gas→solid). Each has a reverse counterpart.
Both are vaporization (liquid→gas), but evaporation occurs only at the surface at any temperature, while boiling occurs throughout the liquid at the boiling point with rapid bubble formation.
Yes! Plasma is the fourth state of matter — an ionized gas where atoms lose electrons. It makes up 99% of visible matter in the universe (stars, lightning, neon signs, auroras).
Deposition (gas→solid) occurs less frequently in everyday life. The most common example is frost forming on cold surfaces — water vapor directly becoming ice crystals without first condensing into liquid water.
Sublimation and deposition skip one phase (liquid). Going from solid directly to plasma would require ionization energy on top of sublimation — this can happen in extreme conditions like laser ablation.