Variation of nucleation rate with degree of superheating in reverse transformation
Answers
Kinetic limit of superheat
Superheated liquids are not quiescent at the microscopic level. Random molecular motion creates local variations in density. The fluctuation in density creates “holes” or “nuclei” within which the molecules may resemble gas in terms of spacing and potential energy. These nuclei grow and decay until a certain size nucleus is created that is in unstable equilibrium with its surroundings. These bubbles are the initial condition for bubble growth within a liquid and the critical size nuclei is known.
Homogeneous nucleation theory can predict the rate of formation of a critical size nucleus at a given pressure, temperatureand composition. The nucleation rate is the mean rate at which nuclei are formed and grow to macroscopic size.