Can a liquid turn to a solid by applying pressure?

When pressure increases, volume decreases. If an extremely high pressure is applied to a liquid, is it possible to reduce it's volume to an extent where the molecules are very tight together, hence becoming a solid? Or do changes in pressure and volume not alter the physical properties of the substance and the liquid remains liquid?




It *is* possible to change a liquid into a solid, or in general change the phase a substance finds itself in by just altering the pressure.


You might want to refer to some graphs known as *Phase diagrams* that portray the effect of temperature and pressure on the physical state of a substance.


[![phase diagram](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mFSbx.png?s=256)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mFSbx.png?s=256)  

(source: [purdue.edu](http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch14/graphics/14_14fig.gif)) 


In this example if you're to draw a straight line from the point B to D, it'll have a subtle positive slope. So there's a possibility to transform a liquid into a solid without making any changes to the temperature conditions.


You might have heard of solid $\ce{CO2}$ or dry ice. I might be wrong but a part of me says carbon dioxide is *pressurised* and refrigerated for it to form.


An interesting thing to note here is that in case of a gas turning into a liquid, there's a temperature known as *Critical Temperature* ($T\_c$) above which the gas cannot be liquified no matter how much pressure is applied.


 3