Kelvin equation
Ecuación de Kelvin
- Date
- 1871 · confidence low
- Place
- Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin
- Field
- Cosmos & Earth
What was discovered
The Kelvin equation describes the change in vapor pressure caused by a curved liquid-vapor interface, such as a droplet's surface: vapor pressure over a convex surface is higher than over a flat one. It rests on thermodynamic principles and is also used to determine the pore-size distribution of porous media via adsorption porosimetry. It is named after William Thomson, Lord Kelvin.
What it led to
- Theoretical basis of gas-adsorption porosimetry
- Explanation of nucleation and capillary-condensation phenomena
- Application in porous-materials science and catalysis