Evaporation is the process of a liquid becoming a gas. The molecules in the liquid form bonds with each other and escape into the atmosphere as vapor. This occurs when the liquid is heated, and the molecules have enough energy to break free from the surface of the liquid. The temperature at which this happens is called the boiling point.
The amount of evaporation that takes place depends on many factors, including:
* The type of liquid – some liquids evaporate more easily than others (for example, water evaporates more readily than oil)
* The surface area of the liquid – a larger surface area means more molecules are exposed to energy, leading to increased evaporation
* The temperature – higher temperatures lead to increased evaporation
* The humidity – drier air can hold less water vapor, so evaporation rates increase in order to reach equilibrium
* Wind speed – faster moving air removes water vapor from an area more quickly, leading to increased evaporation.
Some liquids evaporate so rapidly that they can be used for cooling purposes. This is because as theliquid changes state from a liquid to a gas, it absorbs heat from its surroundings. This type of cooling is called evaporative cooling and it can be used in hot climates or when there is a lot of physical activity (such as during exercise).