Editing Phase transition (section)

{{short description|Physical process of transition between basic states of matter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
[[File:Phase change - en.svg|class=skin-invert-image|thumb|upright=1.45|This diagram shows the nomenclature for the different phase transitions.]]

In [[physics]], [[chemistry]], and other related fields like biology, a '''phase transition''' (or '''phase change''') is the [[physical process]] of transition between one state of a medium and another. Commonly the term is used to refer to changes among the basic [[State of matter|states of matter]]: [[solid]], [[liquid]], and [[gas]], and in rare cases, [[plasma (physics)|plasma]]. A phase of a [[thermodynamic system]] and the states of matter have uniform [[physical property|physical properties]]. During a phase transition of a given medium, certain properties of the medium change as a result of the change of external conditions, such as [[temperature]] or [[pressure]]. This can be a discontinuous change; for example, a liquid may become gas upon heating to its [[boiling point]], resulting in an abrupt change in volume. The identification of the external conditions at which a transformation occurs defines the phase transition point.