Homogeneous Nucleation of Vapor Condensation. I. Thermodynamic Aspects

Abstract

In absence of all foreign materials or wall surfaces, phase transitions of the type vapor-to-liquid or liquid-to-solid are blocked by an activation-free-energy barrier. The latter arises from surface-free energy increases resulting from appearance of embryos of the more condensed phase. The thermodynamics of this type of phase transition are examined in Part I for the particular case of vapor condensation, a case for which theory and experiment now stand in tolerably good agreement. In Part II, kinetic aspects will be considered.