A short note on Condensation 

Introduction

During condensation, water molecules in the air are converted to liquid water through a process known as condensation. In other words, the water in the air is a gas referred to as water vapour. Condensation is the change of water vapour into liquid water, and the most striking example of this is the massive, fluffy clouds hovering above your head. When the water droplets in a cloud combine, they become heavy enough to fall to the Earth’s surface.

 What is the Condensation Reaction, and how does it work?

A condensation reaction is when two molecules combine to produce a single molecule, usually with the loss of a minor molecule such as water. It is the process by which the physical state of matter transitions from the gaseous phase to the liquid phase, which is referred to as condensation. In the case of condensation, when water vapour (in its gaseous form) in the air comes into contact with a cooler surface, it turns into liquid water. As soon as water vapour in the air comes into touch with a cold surface, it condenses to create water droplets on the surface. The evaporation reaction is the polar opposite of the condensation reaction.

 Condensation is defined as

 It is possible to define condensation in another way, which is as follows:

• Condensations are those reactions in which two molecules are brought together without losing water.
• It is described as the process of removing heat from a system in a way that causes the vapour to condense and then solidify into liquid form.

After a long day of work in the sun in the summer, we become thirsty. When we get home and take a cold water bottle out of the refrigerator, we can see small water droplets outside the bottle, which we assume are water droplets. Where did these water droplets come from, and how did they get into the bottle? Because of a phenomenon called condensation, this occurs in the first place.

 The Condensation Process in Its simplest form

It is the process by which water changes its phase from a gaseous state to a liquid or crystal structure known as condensation. Any gas can condense when subjected to high pressure and low temperature. Technically, condensation can take place at any temperature as long as the pressure of the gas in its liquid state is less than the pressure of the condensing gas, which is true in most cases. It is possible for the molecules in the matter to slow down during condensation because the heat energy is removed. This results in a transition within the three states of matter, specifically a change from the liquid state to the solid state, referred to as solidification.

 In a chemical reaction known as condensation, two molecules combine to form a larger one, resulting in an element such as water.  

Condensation reactions remove hydrogen and hydroxide from distinct molecules, whereas dehydration reactions remove both hydrogen and hydroxide from the same molecule, as in the case of a condensation process. An electronegative atom is dehydrated in a condensation reaction, while a C atom is dehydrated in a dehydration event. Condensation and dehydration are two different reactions.

 During the water cycle, condensation takes place

• It is vital to the water cycle because condensation is responsible for creating clouds, essential for life on Earth.
• The presence of water vapour in the atmosphere is responsible for creating clouds, which eventually fall to the ground in the form of rain.
• Due to the movement of the water molecules, this change in the water phase occurs between solid, liquid, and gas.
• Compared to the liquid state, the water molecules in the vapour state are more randomly organised.
• In the course of condensing, the water molecules become more structured. As a result, heat is released into the atmosphere, and the water molecules change phase from their vapour to their liquid state.
• This is most commonly seen in the atmosphere where heated air rises to the upper atmosphere and cools down.

Water Cycle

The atmosphere must be completely saturated for condensation to occur (to reach maximum vapour pressure). Normal condensation occurs when dust particles, smoke, or microscopic microorganisms contact a liquid. It contributes significantly to the water cycle and, as a result, aids in the preservation of the water balance in the surrounding environment. Scientists and engineers utilise it in various industrial procedures to separate mixtures, manufacture pure compounds, and research and develop.

Condensation reactions can be classified into two types:

 Intramolecular condensation: Intramolecular condensation is a reaction that occurs when two functional groups of the same molecule react to eliminate another simple molecule.

Intermolecular Condensation: Intermolecular condensation is the condensation reaction between two molecules of the same or distinct substances.

 Conclusion

In this sense, condensation is also considered the polar opposite of evaporation and vice versa. It is, in essence, the process by which a liquid transforms into a gas. The condensation phenomena are discussed in length and illustrated with examples in this article.