Question #8fe7a

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Stefan V.
Dec 14, 2014

Supercritical carbon dioxide is a fluid state of CO2 at which both the temperature and the pressure exceed the critical point - the highest temperature and pressure at which the substance can exist as a vapor and liquid in equilibrium - of 31∘C ( or 304.15K) and 73atm.

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If you look at CO2's phase diagram, this region corresponds to the upper-right portion of the diagram. When in a supercritical state, CO2 has both gas-like and liquid-like qualities - it acts as a supercritical fluid for which distinct gas and liquid phases do not exist.

Supercritical fluids can dissolve materials like a liquid and effuse through solids as a gas, and are often used as a substitute for organic solvents for industrial or laboratory processes. This dissolving ability can be apllied to extract, purify, recristallize, infuse, or fractionate various materials

By controlling its temperature and/or pressure, supercritical CO2 can be made to dissolve a wide range of materials.

Here's a YouTube video on supercritical CO∘

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