Critical line (thermodynamics)

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In thermodynamics, a critical line is the higher-dimensional equivalent of a critical point.[1] It is the locus of contiguous critical points in a phase diagram. These lines cannot occur for a single substance due to the phase rule, but they can be observed in systems with more variables, such as mixtures. Two critical lines may meet and terminate in a tricritical point.

References

  1. B. Windom, Theory of Phase Equilibrium, J. Phys. Chem 1996, 13190-13199