Co-Authored By:
Asked by: Saioa LVI
home and garden indoor environmental qualityWhat is happening to water at a molecular level when it evaporates and condenses?
Condensation is the process in which molecules of a gas slow down, come together, and form a liquid. When gas molecules transfer their energy to something cooler, they slow down and their attractions cause them to bond to become a liquid. Making water vapor colder increases the rate of condensation.
Also question is, what happens at a molecular level during evaporation?
Evaporation happens when a liquid substance becomes a gas. When water is heated, it evaporates. The molecules move and vibrate so quickly that they escape into the atmosphere as molecules of water vapor. Heat from the sun, or solar energy, powers the evaporation process.
| Change of State | From | Heat Added or Removed |
|---|---|---|
| Freezing | Liquid | Removed |
| Vapourization | Liquid | Added |
| Condensation | Gas | Removed |
| Sublimation | Solid | Added |
Likewise, what happens to energy during evaporation?
In evaporation, matter changes from a liquid to a gas. All matter is made of tiny moving particles called molecules. Evaporation and condensation happen when these molecules gain or lose energy. This energy exists in the form of heat.
Evaporation happens on the surface and is a much slower process. By adding energy you cause the molecules to move faster and break away from the others. The temperature that evaporation occurs is called the vaporization point or boiling point. Water boils at 212 °F (100 °C).