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Critical Point Definition

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide

Definition: The critical point or critical state is the point at which two phases of a substance initially become indistinguishable from one another.

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Also Known As: critical state
Examples:
The meniscus between steam and water vanishes at temperatures above 374°C and pressures above 217.6 atm, forming what is known as a supercritical fluid.

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