supercooling
Liquid below freezing
Supercooling is cooling a liquid below its normal freezing point without it solidifying.
Water, for instance, can remain liquid well below 32°F if undisturbed.
The supercooled state is unstable—a slight disturbance or introduction of a seed crystal triggers rapid freezing.
The phenomenon occurs in clouds, where supercooled water droplets contribute to ice formation and precipitation.
Low-temperature biological preservation
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- cryobiologyStudy of low-temperature life effects
- cryostatMaintains cryogenic temperatures
- cryonicsFreezing bodies for revival
cryotherapy · cryosurgery · flash freezing · liquid nitrogen · cryogenic storage · cold shock · ice crystals · freeze-thaw
Without distinct shape
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- glassySmooth and shiny
- alloyMetallic combination
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
Initial cluster formation
- undercoolingLiquid below freezing point
- metastableStable but not permanently
- crystallizationForming ordered solid structure
- freezing point depressionSolute lowers solidification temperature
latent heat · enthalpy · supersaturation · solidification · heat transfer · diffusion · seed crystal · phase transition
Precipitation forming ice on surfaces
- cloud seedingArtificially inducing rainfall
- ice fogFrozen mist in extreme cold
- frostThin ice coating
- black iceInvisible frozen road surface
Enduring the cold months
- cryoprotectionDefense against freezing harm
- wood frogFreeze-tolerant forest amphibian
- cold hardinessTolerance for freezing conditions
cryopreservation
Low-temperature biological preservation
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- cryobiologyStudy of low-temperature life effects
- cryostatMaintains cryogenic temperatures
cryonics · cryotherapy · cryosurgery · flash freezing · liquid nitrogen · cryogenic storage · cold shock · ice crystals · freeze-thaw · cellular damage
amorphous
Without distinct shape
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- glassySmooth and shiny
- alloyMetallic combination
nucleation
Initial cluster formation
- undercoolingLiquid below freezing point
- metastableStable but not permanently
- crystallizationForming ordered solid structure
freezing point depression · latent heat · enthalpy · supersaturation · solidification · heat transfer · diffusion · seed crystal · phase transition · equilibrium
freezing rain
Precipitation forming ice on surfaces
- cloud seedingArtificially inducing rainfall
- ice fogFrozen mist in extreme cold
- frostThin ice coating
black ice · graupel · sleet · precipitation · winter storm
overwintering
Enduring the cold months
- cryoprotectionDefense against freezing harm
- wood frogFreeze-tolerant forest amphibian
- cold hardinessTolerance for freezing conditions
- condensationcondensation, dew, fog, steam, frost
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- Ice processesfreezing, melting, frost, thawing, icing
- cryogenicsliquid nitrogen, cryogenic, cryogenics, cryogenic storage, cryostat
- heat transferconduction, convection, heat flow, heat transfer, conductors
- metastabilityunstable equilibrium, local minimum, energy barrier, superheating, supersaturation
supercoolingcrystallization
Forming ordered solid structure
freezing · solidification · nucleation · ice formation · flash freezing
cool, cooler, coolness, uncool, cooling, coolly, superlative, supercool, precool