Evaporation and Condensation

Evaporation and Condensation both change liquid water into a gas. The only difference between the two is that Evaporation changes liquid water into a gas without changing temperature, while Condensation only occurs when the surrounding air is cooler than the liquid and it cools enough to condense back into its original state.

What is Evaporation?

Evaporation is when a liquid becomes vapor without changing in temperature. When you boil water until it starts to vaporize, it is because of evaporation. This phenomenon can also happen if you place ice cubes in an open container of hot water, or when your body perspires from heat or anxiety.

Evaporation requires little energy because the liquid is getting hotter. Heat is transferred to the surrounding air, which then evaporates the water.

When does Evaporation occur?

Evaporation occurs when a liquid converts to gas without any temperature change. It occurs when heat is transferred from the liquid to the environment. The water molecules which are escaping from the liquid are not uniform due to the differences in their energy levels. Evaporation can be seen in a pot of boiling water if you place a lid on top and if you keep your hand close to it, you will feel the heat coming off of it. This is because heat is being transferred from the hot water into your hand and the environment around it.

Heat energy pulls more molecules up and out of the pot, allowing more room for more molecules that are trying to escape at the same time.

What is Condensation?

Condensation occurs when a gas (a vapor) changes into a liquid. When you breathe out in cold weather, condense forms on your glasses or from your breath to create fog. The fog can form when warm humid air is rapidly cooled or when warm dryer air mixes with cool outside air. This occurs due to the natural cooling of these gases that are trapped inside an enclosure and there is no place for it to go but up into the air around it.

When does Condensation occur?

Condensation occurs when a gas changes into a liquid. Condensation occurs in the air when warm air suddenly meets the cold air outside and is rapidly cooled to below the dew point. It also occurs in enclosures, like a refrigerator or freezer, when warm humid air meets cold dry air and cools down below the dew point.

Condensation needs more energy than Evaporation because it changes the phase or form of water from a gas to a liquid. The molecules are making their way down and condensing back into the liquid state, so this needs more energy than Evaporation which only goes up into the air around it.

Difference between Evaporation and Condensation:

1) The main difference between Evaporation and Condensation is that while Evaporation is a change of state from liquid to vapor without any temperature change, Condensation is a change of state from gas to liquid with the help of an enclosed space.

2) Condensation only occurs when the air around it is cooler than the liquid.

3) Condensation takes more energy than Evaporation because it changes the phase or form of water from a gas to a liquid, while it’s the opposite for Evaporation which just goes up into the air around it.

4) Evaporation requires less heat energy than Condensation because it goes up into the air around it, while Condensation requires more because it comes down out of the air and back into a liquid state.

5) Condensation occurs due to changes in gravity, which pulls the water droplets that are inside the cold air down to a liquid state.

6) Condensation can form due to condensing from humid air mixing with dryer air outside or from sudden temperature changes in an enclosed space.

7) Condensation only occurs when warm moist air comes into contact with cold dry air in an enclosed space forcing the warm moist air to cool below its dew point.

8) When you have moist air cooling below its dew point, the molecules become more spread out which makes it take longer for them to condense back into a liquid because they have less area for them to be able to condense into.

9) The temperature of an enclosed space needs to cool below what is called the dew point for condensation to happen.

10) Condensation occurs when warm moist air comes into contact with cold dry air in an enclosed space forcing the warm moist air to cool below its dew point.

11) Condensation only occurs when warm humid air is replaced by cold dryer air inside of a sealed container.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Evaporation and Condensation are both phenomena that occur in the air. On the one hand, Evaporation is a change of state from liquid to vapor without any change in temperature while on the other hand, Condensation is a change of state from gas to liquid with the help of an enclosed space.

Evaporation can be seen in a pot of boiling water if you place a lid on top and if you keep your hand close to it, you will feel the heat coming off of it. This is because heat is being transferred from the hot water into your hand and the environment around it.