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The evaporation It is the physical process by which matter passes from the liquid state to the gaseous state. It is a slow and gradual process that occurs when matter in a liquid state receives a certain amount of temperature. For example: TOhen the increase in temperature, the water changes from a liquid state to water vapor.
Many of the evaporation processes occur naturally. Evaporation is one of the phases of the water cycle.
Evaporation occurs only at the surface of the liquid. Some liquids evaporate faster than others at the same temperature. In the case of water, evaporation occurs when the molecules in the liquid state are agitated by the increase in temperature, gain energy, and break the surface tension of the liquid and are released in the form of vapor.
Evaporation should not be confused with boiling, which only occurs at a specific temperature level for each substance. Boiling occurs when the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the atmospheric pressure and all the molecules of the liquid exert pressure and transform into gas. Evaporation is a process that occurs with increases in temperature below the boiling point. Both are types of vaporization.
- It can serve you: Liquids to gaseous
Evaporation in the water cycle
Evaporation is a key process within the hydrological cycle. The water from the surface of the earth (lagoons, rivers, seas) evaporates by the action of the sun. Part of the water vapor that evaporates into the atmosphere also comes from living beings (through perspiration).
The water vapor reaches the upper layers of the atmosphere, there the condensation process occurs, in which the gas cools due to the low temperature of the atmosphere and turns into a liquid. The water droplets form clouds and then fall to the earth's surface as precipitation or snow to start a new cycle.
Examples of evaporation
- Wet clothes hung out in the open dry due to evaporation of water.
- The puddles that form after the rain evaporate with the sun.
- The formation of clouds originate from the evaporation of water from the earth's surface.
- The steam from a saucepan over the fire.
- The melting of an ice cube at room temperature, since once the water is in a liquid state it will begin to evaporate.
- Evaporation from a glass of alcohol or ether placed at room temperature.
- The smoke that comes out of a hot cup of tea or coffee is the liquid evaporating.
- The evaporation of dry ice in contact with air.
- A wet floor dries out due to the evaporation of water.
- Water vapor released under high pressure from inside a boiler.
- The sweat on the skin when we exercise disappears due to the progressive evaporation.
- The evaporation of salty sea water, leaving sea salt behind.
It can serve you:
- Vaporization
- Fusion, solidification, evaporation, sublimation, condensation
- Boiling
