Can Air Be Compressed Into A Solid? Exploring The Possibilities

Is it possible to fully compress air? The answer is no. Air always occupies space, and its volume can indeed be altered when subjected to compression within an enclosed system. However, it’s essential to note that even under extreme compression, air can never be completely eliminated; there will always be some residual volume of air left. This occurs because air is composed of molecules that retain a certain amount of space between them, and no compression method can entirely eliminate this inherent space.

Is it possible to transform oxygen into a solid form through compression? Indeed, oxygen can be compressed into a solid state known as the β-phase at room temperature by subjecting it to pressure. As the pressure increases, fascinating phase transitions occur. At 9 GPa, the β-phase transforms into the δ-phase, and at 10 GPa, it transitions to the ε-phase. These transitions are accompanied by an augmentation in molecular interactions, which also leads to changes in the color of the β-phase.