Evaporation is the process by which molecules in a liquid escape into the gas phase. At room temperature, these molecules are constantly colliding with each other. The average speed of these molecules depends on the temperature, some molecules move faster than others. When more energetic molecules are near the liquid’s surface, they can escape into the gas above as more and more of the most energetic molecules evaporate into the gas, the average energy of the molecules left behind decreases, and thus the temperature of the liquid decreases. That is why evaporation causes cooling.
Daily life examples of the evaporation process are listed below:
- Drying clothes under the Sun
- Melting of ice cubes
- When you pour water on your skin, it cools the skin due to the evaporation of water.
- Sweating
- In desalination processes, seawater is evaporated and condensed in a water-cooled heat exchanger to produce fresh water.
- Evaporation is a key step in the water cycle.
- In the sugar manufacturing process, Water is evaporated from thin syrup containing dissolved solids to a thick syrup
- Melting of a cube of ice
- Evaporation of nail polish remover
- Drying of wet hair.
Table of Contents
Evaporation Facts
- Evaporation is an endothermic reaction because water molecules must absorb heat from their surroundings in order to increase their kinetic energy and convert it to vapours.
- Evaporation is the inverse process of condensation, in which water vapours convert to liquid.
- Evaporation occurs at all temperatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does evaporation cause cooling?
2. Why does a liquid cools when it evaporates?
3. What are examples of evaporation causing cooling?
5. Why evaporation is a cooling process?
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PhD Student at University College Dublin and Author at What's Insight
PhD Student who loves to write about science, technology and more. Studying at the University College in Dublin. Hope you enjoy my content.
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