Saturation temperature is the temperature at which a substance transitions from its liquid phase to its vapor phase, or from its vapor phase to its liquid phase. It is also known as boiling point or condensation point.
Saturation temperature and normal boiling point are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. Normal boiling point is the temperature at which a substance boils at standard atmospheric pressure, while saturation temperature can vary depending on the pressure of the system.
Saturation temperature is directly related to pressure. As pressure increases, saturation temperature also increases. This is because higher pressure makes it harder for molecules to escape the liquid phase and enter the vapor phase, thus requiring a higher temperature for the transition to occur.
Knowing the saturation temperature of a substance is important in various industrial and scientific processes. It helps determine the conditions necessary for a substance to change from liquid to vapor or vice versa, which is crucial in processes such as distillation, refrigeration, and power generation.
Saturation temperature can be measured using a variety of methods, including thermometers, pressure-temperature charts, and thermodynamic equations. The specific method used depends on the substance and the conditions of the system being studied.