Which of the following statements is correct? (check all that apply)
If liquid water is not stable on the surface of Mars, liquid CO2 is definitely not stable.
If liquid CO2 is not stable on the surface of Mars, liquid water is definitely not stable.
If liquid water is stable on the surface of Mars, liquid CO2 must also be stable.
If liquid CO2 is stable on the surface of Mars, liquid water must also be stable.
To determine which statements are correct, we need to consider the conditions and properties of Mars.
First, we need to understand the concept of stability regarding liquids on a planetary surface. When we say a liquid is "stable," it means it can exist in its liquid state without rapidly evaporating or freezing due to the ambient conditions, such as temperature and pressure.
Now let's evaluate each statement:
1. If liquid water is not stable on the surface of Mars, liquid CO2 is definitely not stable.
To assess the stability of liquids on Mars, we need to consider the atmospheric pressure and temperature. Although the atmospheric pressure on Mars is too low for stable liquid water (lower than the triple point of water), it is also too low for stable liquid CO2 (lower than the triple point of carbon dioxide). Therefore, this statement is correct.
2. If liquid CO2 is not stable on the surface of Mars, liquid water is definitely not stable.
Again, we need to consider the atmospheric pressure and temperature on Mars. Given that the atmospheric pressure on Mars is too low for stable liquid CO2, it is even lower than the pressure required for liquid water stability. So this statement is also correct.
3. If liquid water is stable on the surface of Mars, liquid CO2 must also be stable.
If liquid water were indeed stable on the surface of Mars, it would suggest that the atmospheric pressure and temperature conditions are suitable for liquid phase stability. However, this statement cannot be inferred solely based on whether liquid water is stable on Mars. The stability of liquid CO2 also depends on additional factors such as temperature and pressure. Therefore, this statement is not correct.
4. If liquid CO2 is stable on the surface of Mars, liquid water must also be stable.
Similar to the third statement, the stability of liquid CO2 alone does not guarantee that liquid water will also be stable on Mars. Liquid water requires different temperature and pressure conditions compared to liquid CO2 for stability. Therefore, this statement is not correct.
In summary, the correct statements are:
- If liquid water is not stable on the surface of Mars, liquid CO2 is definitely not stable.
- If liquid CO2 is not stable on the surface of Mars, liquid water is definitely not stable.