EVAPORATION

Evaporation:
Evaporation is the process where a liquid turns automatically into vapour below its boiling
point. Evaporation takes place at all temperatures.

Factors that affect evaporation:

The rate of evaporation is affected by the following factors:
I. Nature of e liquid:
High volatile liquids have a high rate of evaporation while liquids that have low volatility
have low rate of evaporation.
II. Temperature of the surrounding:
Rate of Evaporation will be high if the temperature of the surrounding is high. The rate of
evaporation will be low if the temperature of the surrounding area is low.
III. Surface area of the liquid that is exposed:
The rate of evaporation of a liquid depends on the area of the liquid surface that is
exposed. The rate of evaporation will increase if the area of the liquid surface that is
exposed is increased. It will decrease if the area of the liquid surface is reduced.
IV. Amount of pressure on the surface of the liquid:
The amount of pressure on the liquid surface determines the rate of evaporation. The rate
of evaporation will reduce if the amount of pressure on the liquid surface is increased. It
will increase if the amount of pressure on the liquid surface is reduced.
V. Humidity:
The rate of evaporation will reduce if the relative humidity of the environment is high. It will
increase if the relative humidity of the environment is low.
VI. The presence of wind:
The presence of wind gives room for evaporation by getting rid of saturated air and allowing
room for more liquid to evaporate.
VII. Dryness of air:
The rate of evaporation will increase if the air is very dry. It will decrease if the air is moist.

Molecular Explanation of Evaporation:

According to kinetic theory of matter, liquid as a matter is made of molecules. The
molecules are in a state of constant random motion with a certain amount of velocity and
possess kinetic energy. When the temperature of the molecules is increased, the kinetic
energy of the molecules increases. This enables the molecules at the surface of the liquid
to break away from the intermolecular force of attraction from molecules below and exist
as vapour. The presence of wind sweeps the vapour away and creates room for more
vapour.

Cooling Effect of Evaporation:

When ever methylated spirit or petrol is spilled any part of the body, The most important
effect of evaporation is cooling the body. When the body perspires during exercises,
evaporation of the sweat cools the temperature of the body.

Explanation Of Cooling Effect Of Evaporation Using Kinetic Molecular Theory:

The sweat or the methylated spirit acquired its latent heat of vaporization from the body
and changed to vapour or vaporized. This acquisition of latent heat of vaporization by
sweat, from the body, reduces the temperature of the body which causes cooling of the
body.
Working Principle of Refrigerator:
The working principle of a refrigerator is based on the cooling effect of evaporation.
Explanation of Working Principle of Refrigerator:
A volatile liquid called refrigerant or liquefied gas is used. The refrigerant is contained in a
copper pipe which surrounds the freezing chamber of the refrigerator. As the refrigerant
evaporates, it absorbs latent heat of vaporization from the surrounding and therefore cools
the inside of the refrigerator and its contents. A compressor at the back of the refrigerator
removes the vapour, compresses it and pumps it into condenser fixed with metal cooling
fins that are attached at the back of the refrigerator. The compressed vapour condenses
and gives out the latent heat it absorbed initially, to the surrounding by convection and
radiation. The condensed vapour goes back into the freezing chamber and the process
repeats itself again and again.
Boiling:
Boiling is the change of state of a substance from liquid to vapour when its surrounding
vapour pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure. Boiling can also be defined as the
vaporization of liquid molecules throughout the entire liquid. The temperature at which the
liquid boils to change to vapour is called saturated temperature. The temperature at which
the liquid boils is called the boiling point.

Factors That Affect Boiling:

The following factors affect boiling of a substance:
I. Impurities:
The presence of impurities in a substance (liquid ) increases the boiling point of the liquid.
A pure liquid boil at it exerts boiling point.
II. Pressure:
Increase in pressure increases the boiling point of a liquid while a decrease in
pressure reduces the boiling point of a liquid. Decrease in pressure is the basis behind
water boiling at a temperature below its boiling point at the top of a mountain.
III. Mass of the liquid:
IV. Nature of the liquid:

Similarities between boiling and evaporation:

Boiling. Evaporation
• Does not cause cooling. It causes cooling
• It occurs in every part of the liquid. It occurs at the surface.
• It is affected by the mass of the liquid. It is not affected by mass of the liquid
• It depends on the nature of the it does not depend on nature of
container because it absorbs its Container
own heat.
• It occurs at a specific temperature. It occurs at all temperatures.
• Wind do not assist boiling. Wind assist evaporation
• Temperature remains constant. Temperature varies constant

Similarities between boiling and evaporation:

• Escape of molecules is involved in both cases.
• Both depend on the nature of the liquid.
• They are both affected by pressure.
• They are both affected by impurities
• Acquisition of energy is involved in both cases

PRACTICE UTME QUESTIONS

Which of the following statements give the TRUE difference between evaporation and
boiling? i. Evaporation occurs at all temperatures while boiling occurs at a fixed
temperature for a given pressure. ii. Evaporation is a surface phenomenon while boiling
is an interior phenomenon. iii. Evaporation is affected by surface area while boiling is
not.

A. I and ii only
B. I and iii only
C. Ii and iii only
D. I, ii, iii.

What will happen to the boiling point of pure water when it is heated in a place 30m
below sea level?

A. It will be more than 100 oC

B. It will be last than 100 oC
C. It will still be at 100 oC
D. It will be fluctuating

Which of the following will increase the boiling point of water?

I. Taking it to a high altitude
II. Dissolving salt into it
III. Heating it in a sealed flask
IV. Increasing the rate of heat supply

A. I only
B. III & IV only
C. II & III only
D. II only

An ice cube floats in a glass of water filled to the brim. What happens
when the ice melts?

A. The water level remains the same

B. There is a drop in the level of water in the glass due to condensation on
its outside
C. The water in the glass overflows
D. The level of water drops because melted ice occupies less volume
E. None of the above is correct

The statements below were made by some students describing what

happened during the determination of the melting point of solids.
i. the temperature of the solid was solid until melting started
ii. the temperature of the solid rose until melting started
iii. during melting, the temperature was rising
iv. during melting, the temperature was constant
v. the temperature continued to rise after all the solid had melted
vi. the temperature stopped rising after all the solid had melted. Which of
the following gives correct statements in the right order?

A. II, iv, and v

B. II, iii and vI
C. I, iii and vI
D. I, iii and v
E. I, iv and v