[iScience]

is the volatility of a solid solute referring to whether or not the solid solute sublimates on its own or not?

[Illuminatus]

Hello iScience,

The volatility of a solid does indeed refer to its ability to sublimate, and is quantified by a direct relationship to vapor pressure. A solid will be considered volatile if it readily sublimates into its gaseous state (eg. solid Carbon dioxide). Only solids whose triple point (on a phase-equilibria diagram) is above the temperature/pressure conditions will readily sublimate.

Enjoy

[curiouscat]

Only solids whose triple point (on a phase-equilibria diagram) is above the temperature/pressure conditions will readily sublimate.

Interesting. I didn't know that bit.

[iScience]

The volatility of a solid does indeed refer to its ability to sublimate, and is quantified by a direct relationship to vapor pressure. A solid will be considered volatile if it readily sublimates into its gaseous state (eg. solid Carbon dioxide). Only solids whose triple point (on a phase-equilibria diagram) is above the temperature/pressure conditions will readily sublimate.

so a volatile solid refers to the solid's ability/tendency for it to sublimate. okay, but when you have a solid that produces odors, would it be accurate to automatically say that that solid is sublimating? i ask because intuitively it just doesn't seem to make sense that metals spontaneously sublimate, because whenever i put a coin or other certain metals near my nose, i can smell the metallic odor coming off of it, and, odor, is the gaeous form of things. so actually, i have a few questions; whatever i'm smelling when i put certain metals near my nose, is it really the actual gaseous form of the metal (non-ionized of course) or is it other things that have the tendency to congregate on the metal surface?
is it unhealthy to smell whatever it is im smelling?
and finally my original question, would it be accurate to automatically say that solid is sublimating if it is something one can smell?

[Illuminatus]

Hello again iScience,

Although it is possible that the odor of a solid may be due to its sublimation, a lot of the time the things you smell are actually unrelated to the solid form you perceive that smell to be coming from. For example: metals do not sublimate under standard conditions, but when you handle them you notice a distinct "metallic" smell. This odor does not actually contain metal atoms, but rather is caused by the byproducts of  reactions with the metal surface.
(see http://phys.org/news82229855.html)

As to whether or not it is healthy to smell these things, I can't say much; like everything else, it will vary on a case by case basis. As long as you are not consistently inhaling large concentrations of the byproducts which provide this odor, you should be fine.

Finally, to your original question: It would thus be inaccurate to assume a solid is sublimating if your only observation is a perceived odor of that solid.

Enjoy