Difference between revisions of "Interface"
(Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame *Date: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1882] ==Definitions== *1 : a surface forming a common boundar...') |
m (Text replacement - "http://" to "https://") |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Face_off_2small.jpg|right|frame]] | [[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Face_off_2small.jpg|right|frame]] | ||
| − | *Date: [ | + | *Date: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1882] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1 : a surface forming a common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases <an oil-water interface> | *1 : a surface forming a common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases <an oil-water interface> | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
:b : the means by which interaction or communication is achieved at an interface | :b : the means by which interaction or communication is achieved at an interface | ||
==Description (Chemistry)== | ==Description (Chemistry)== | ||
| − | An '''interface''' is a [[surface]] forming a common [[boundary]] among two different [[phases]], such as an insoluble solid and a liquid, two immiscible liquids or a liquid and an insoluble gas. The importance of the interface depends on which type of [[system]] is being treated: the bigger the quotient area/volume, the more [[effect]] the surface [[phenomena]] will have. Therefore interfaces will be considered in [[systems]] with big area/volume ratios, such as [ | + | An '''interface''' is a [[surface]] forming a common [[boundary]] among two different [[phases]], such as an insoluble solid and a liquid, two immiscible liquids or a liquid and an insoluble gas. The importance of the interface depends on which type of [[system]] is being treated: the bigger the quotient area/volume, the more [[effect]] the surface [[phenomena]] will have. Therefore interfaces will be considered in [[systems]] with big area/volume ratios, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloid colloids]. |
Interfaces can be [[Sphere|spherical]] or flat, so they can be considered to be always spherical with [[finite]] or [[infinite]] radius. For example oil droplets in a salad dressing are spherical but the interface between water and air in a glass of water is mostly flat. | Interfaces can be [[Sphere|spherical]] or flat, so they can be considered to be always spherical with [[finite]] or [[infinite]] radius. For example oil droplets in a salad dressing are spherical but the interface between water and air in a glass of water is mostly flat. | ||
Latest revision as of 23:55, 12 December 2020
- Date: 1882
Definitions
- 1 : a surface forming a common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases <an oil-water interface>
- 2 a : the place at which independent and often unrelated systems meet and act on or communicate with each other <the man-machine interface>
- b : the means by which interaction or communication is achieved at an interface
Description (Chemistry)
An interface is a surface forming a common boundary among two different phases, such as an insoluble solid and a liquid, two immiscible liquids or a liquid and an insoluble gas. The importance of the interface depends on which type of system is being treated: the bigger the quotient area/volume, the more effect the surface phenomena will have. Therefore interfaces will be considered in systems with big area/volume ratios, such as colloids.
Interfaces can be spherical or flat, so they can be considered to be always spherical with finite or infinite radius. For example oil droplets in a salad dressing are spherical but the interface between water and air in a glass of water is mostly flat.
Surface tension {see Superficial) is the function which rules interface processes.
Interfaces may cause various optical phenomena, such as refraction. Optical lenses serve as an example of a practical application of the interface between glass and air.
One important interface is the gas liquid interface between aerosols and other atmospheric molecules.
