What Happens to Matter Under Extreme Pressure?

TL;DR

Under extreme pressure, water and oil can mix, noble gases can form compounds, and non-metal elements can conduct electricity.

Transcript

SciShow is supported by Brilliant.org - a problem-solving website that teaches you how to think like a physicist, statistician, or mathematician. [♪♩INTRO] Pressure can make us do some pretty weird things, from forgetting our own names during a big presentation, to giving ridiculous responses to Family Feud categories. But it doesn’t just make us k... Read More

Key Insights

• 💯 Diamond Anvil Cells (DACs) are used to create extreme pressures, simulating conditions found in the Earth's core and beyond.
• 🚾 The compression of methane molecules enables the mixing of water and oil under extreme pressure, offering insights into conditions in space.
• 🫢 Noble gases can form compounds under high pressure, leading to the discovery of sodium helide with a unique crystal structure.
• 💪 Metallic hydrogen, a conductive fluid, exists inside Jupiter and contributes to its strong magnetic field.
• 😚 Extreme pressure can cause metals to lose conductivity or become insulators by altering their atomic structure.
• 📏 Studying the effects of extreme pressure expands our understanding of chemistry and physics, revealing exceptions to the usual rules.
• ❓ Brilliant.org offers problem-solving courses to enhance STEM skills and apply scientific knowledge.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do scientists study the reactions of elements under extreme pressure?

Scientists use a device called a Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC) to apply high pressure to materials, allowing them to observe how elements interact and change their properties.

Q: Why do water and oil mix under extreme pressure?

Water and oil can mix under extreme pressure because the compression of methane molecules allows them to slip into the network of bonds connecting the water molecules, resulting in an even distribution.

Q: What is the significance of creating compounds with noble gases under high pressure?

Creating compounds with noble gases helps in removing electrons from atoms and can have useful applications. However, these compounds usually require high pressures, making their existence fleeting under normal conditions.

Q: How does extreme pressure affect the conductivity of non-metal elements?

Under extreme pressure, non-metal elements can transition from being insulators to conductive materials. The atoms are squeezed, allowing the creation of a communal sea of electrons that facilitates the flow of electric charge.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Under extreme pressure, water and oil can mix due to the compression of methane molecules, providing insights into the chemistry of planets and moons.

• Noble gases, which typically do not interact with other elements, can form compounds under high pressure, such as sodium helide with helium and sodium atoms.

• At high pressures, non-metal elements can become conductive, as seen in metallic hydrogen inside Jupiter's core.