Evaporation

Most recent answer: 04/26/2018

Q:
why all liquids do not evaporate below their boiling points, applying the same logic as for water?
- K. C. Modi (age 81)
Indore, India
A:

All liquids will evaporate, like water, if the vapor is removed. If the vapor is kept nearby, they only evaporate to the point where the molecules returning from the vapor to the liquid just balance the ones evaporating from the liquid. For some liquids the corresponding vapor pressure may be very low at low temperatures, and the evaporation rate is also very low.

Mike W.


(published on 04/26/2018)