Physics – 2.2.3 Melting, boiling and evaporation | e-Consult

Condensation: Condensation is the process where a gas changes into a liquid. This occurs when the kinetic energy of the gas particles decreases. As the temperature of the gas decreases, the particles move slower and slower. This reduced kinetic energy allows the intermolecular forces (forces of attraction between particles) to become stronger. When these forces are strong enough to overcome the particles' tendency to move freely, they clump together, forming a liquid. The rate of condensation is directly related to the temperature; lower temperatures lead to faster condensation. The more the gas is cooled, the more particles slow down and the more likely they are to condense.

Solidification: Solidification is the process where a liquid changes into a solid. This happens when the kinetic energy of the liquid particles decreases significantly. As the temperature of the liquid decreases, the particles lose energy and move slower. At a certain temperature (the freezing point), the intermolecular forces become strong enough to hold the particles in fixed positions, forming a rigid structure – a solid. The particles vibrate around these fixed positions but do not move freely. Similar to condensation, the rate of solidification is dependent on temperature; lower temperatures promote faster solidification. The more the liquid is cooled, the more the particles lose energy and become locked into a solid arrangement.