Evaporation Definition in Chemistry

What Does Evaporation Mean in Chemistry?

Evaporation is the phase change from the liquid to gas phase.
Evaporation is the phase change from the liquid to gas phase.

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By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on July 03, 2019

Evaporation is the process by which molecules undergo the a spontaneous transition from the liquid phase to the gas phase. Evaporation is the opposite of condensation.

For evaporation to occur, molecules in a liquid must be near the surface, must be moving away from the body of the liquid, and must have enough kinetic energy to escape the interface. When molecules do escape, the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules is lowered. This lowers the temperature of the liquid and is the basis for the phenomenon of evaporative cooling.

Example

The gradual drying of damp clothes is caused by the evaporation of water into water vapor.

Source

  • Silberberg, Martin A. (2006). Chemistry (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 431–434. ISBN 0-07-296439-1.
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Evaporation Definition in Chemistry." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/definition-of-evaporation-604460. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2021, February 16). Evaporation Definition in Chemistry. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-evaporation-604460 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Evaporation Definition in Chemistry." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-evaporation-604460 (accessed March 27, 2023).
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