Topic: Can all substances exist in a solid state? (Read 3769 times)

limonade · « **on:** February 05, 2015, 11:37:40 PM »

Are there any substances that are only capable of being in either liquid or gas phase and never solid?

curiouscat · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2015, 11:54:11 PM »

Are there any substances that are only capable of being in either liquid or gas phase and never solid?

I think not. If you can solidify Helium almost anything else ought to solidify too.

kriggy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2015, 03:30:50 AM »

I think not. If you can solidify Helium almost anything else ought to solidify too.

You can?

cool

Dan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2015, 05:55:30 AM »

You can? cool

Yeah, but it's a bit tricky. Don't forget your hat and gloves:

Helium phase diagram (source).

limonade · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2015, 05:03:31 PM »

Thanks for the answers. Very enlightening.

swintarka · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2015, 02:22:23 AM »

There are some substances that only exist as diluted gases, or in diluted solution, as its molecules react violently with themselves.
For example diazene:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diazene

Or some ions that exist only in gas phase:
H3+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trihydrogen_cation

Also excimers, molecules that exist only in excited electronic states:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excimer

(for example He2)