Question

It often happens that a substance possessing a smectic liquid crystalline phase just above the melting point passes into a nematic liquid crystalline phase at a higher temperature. Account for this type of behavior.

Short answer

In conclusion, a substance transitions from a smectic liquid crystalline phase just above the melting point to a nematic liquid crystalline phase at a higher temperature due to the increasing kinetic energy of the molecules. This increased kinetic energy disrupts the ordered layered structure of the smectic phase, leading to the less ordered nematic phase with a common molecular direction.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding liquid crystal phases

Liquid crystals are a state of matter which have properties between those of conventional liquids and crystalline solids. They can flow like a liquid, but also have a structured arrangement of molecules similar to a crystalline solid. There are different types of liquid crystalline phases, and in this exercise, we are focusing on smectic and nematic liquid crystalline phases.

Smectic liquid crystalline phase

A smectic liquid crystalline phase is characterized by an organized structure of the molecules, where the molecules are arranged in layers. Within each layer, the molecules are parallel to each other and have a specific direction, called a director. The layers can slide past each other, which gives the smectic phase its fluid-like property. The more ordered structure of the smectic phase is present at a lower temperature range.

Nematic liquid crystalline phase

The nematic phase is another type of liquid crystalline phase. In this phase, the molecular ordering is less defined compared to the smectic phase. The molecules are not arranged in layers in the nematic phase, which means there is no layered structure. Instead, the molecules in the nematic phase have a common direction, which makes it an anisotropic liquid. The less organized nematic phase occurs at a higher temperature range than the smectic phase.

Temperature effect on liquid crystalline phases

As the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the molecules also increases. This increase in temperature leads to the reduction in the ordering of molecules. When the temperature is just above the melting point, the molecules can form a more ordered structure, forming the smectic phase with its layered structure.

Transition from smectic to nematic phase

As the temperature increases further, the kinetic energy of the molecules becomes high enough to disrupt the ordered layered structure of the smectic phase. The molecules become less ordered and lose their layered structure and instead align themselves in a common direction. This results in the transition from the smectic phase to the nematic phase at a higher temperature. In conclusion, this type of behavior of a substance passing from a smectic liquid crystalline phase just above the melting point to a nematic liquid crystalline phase at a higher temperature can be accounted for by the increasing kinetic energy of the molecules as the temperature increases. This increased kinetic energy disrupts the ordered structure found in the smectic phase, causing a transition to the less ordered nematic phase.

Key concepts

Smectic Phase

The smectic phase is a fascinating state of matter found in some liquid crystals. In this phase, molecules are organized into layers, which contribute to its unique properties. Within each layer, the molecules are aligned in parallel and oriented in a particular direction, known as the director. This alignment gives the smectic phase its semi-rigid structure.
The structure allows these layers to slide easily past one another, lending the smectic phase a fluid-like ability to flow. This phase is more ordered than some other liquid crystalline phases, occurring at lower temperature ranges.

• The molecular arrangement is organized into layers.
• Molecules within a layer are parallel to each other.
• Layering allows for a fluid-like ability.

These characteristics make the smectic phase a balance between the solid-like order of crystal and fluidity of liquid. Understanding this can help explain the transitions these phases experience with temperature changes.

Nematic Phase

The nematic phase is another intriguing state in the world of liquid crystals. Unlike the smectic phase, the nematic phase doesn't organize molecules into separate layers. Instead, the molecules in a nematic phase align themselves in a similar direction, leading to its unique properties.
Despite the lack of layered structure, the nematic phase maintains a degree of anisotropy, referring to the directional ordering that exists. This phase generally occurs at higher temperatures compared to the smectic phase.

• Molecules align in a common direction, lacking clear layers.
• Displays anisotropic properties due to alignment.
• Occurs at higher temperatures than the smectic phase.

The nematic phase is a bit more fluid and disorganized compared to the smectic phase, due in part to the increased activity of molecules at these higher temperatures. This makes the nematic phase a fascinating state of matter depicting liquid-crystal behavior.

Temperature Effects on Liquid Crystals

Temperature is a critical factor in determining the phase behavior of liquid crystals. As temperatures increase, the molecules within liquid crystals gain kinetic energy. This energy impacts the arrangement and behavior of these molecules significantly.
At temperatures just above a liquid crystal's melting point, the molecules can form more ordered structures, typically characteristic of the smectic phase. However, as temperature continues to rise:

• Kinetic energy increases, disrupting molecular order.
• Smectic layers break down as molecules become more active.
• The liquid crystal transitions to the less ordered nematic phase.

This transformation from an organized layer structure to a less ordered but still aligned form highlights the transitional nature of liquid crystals. The thermally induced transition is crucial in applications where liquid crystals are used, such as in display technologies. Understanding the relationship between temperature and molecular order helps in designing and improving such technologies.