Supercooled Water

Abstract

Scientific interest in the properties of supercooled water has been in evidence at least since 1820 when Kaemtz⁽³⁰⁶⁾ reported vapor pressures down to −19°C. In 1844–1847 Regnault(^520,521) extended these measurements to a remarkable −32.8°C, a degree of supercooling not equaled, let alone exceeded, for almost another 100 years. Another very deliberate, though less spectacular, early exploration of water properties in the metastable region was that of Despretz⁽¹³⁵⁾ who in 1837 conducted a very thorough study of the anomalous liquid density behavior about 4°C. Despretz pursued the negative expansivity phenomenon down to −9°C, and his measurements were of a quality which lead Mendeleef to write in 1892. “Information respecting the expansion of water from −10 to 100°C has hardly made any progress since Despretz’s determinations as regards their trustworthiness.”⁽⁴⁴²⁾ The range of density measurements was not extended until 1912, and then only to −13°C.⁽⁴⁴⁶⁾