Supercooling and Superheating

[RyanTran2F]

In section 8.12 we learned about supercooling and superheating. Can someone explain why these can happen? How does something pass the freezing point and the boiling point before freezing/boiling (respectively)? Thanks :)

[Hubert Tang-1H]

For superheating, boiling typically occurs when the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the pressure of its surroundings. Some liquids may require additional pressure to overcome surface tension.

Superheating basically occurs because of the surface tension and surrounding pressure both opposing the vapor pressure, meaning the temperature needs to be raised above the boiling point in order to have enough vapor pressure to overcome the surface tension, and cause the liquid to boil. Liquids that are above boiling point but has insufficient vapor pressure to overcome surface tension would be superheated.

[Magdalena Palavecino 1A]

Do you think we will be asked to pdo problems in which the delta Hs refer to supercooling and superheating problems? Would they be solved the same way or do some specific rules apply?