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

Evaporation from the surface of liquid X involves individual molecules gaining enough kinetic energy to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them within the liquid. These molecules, possessing sufficient energy, transition into the gaseous phase and escape into the surrounding environment. The rate of this process is dependent on the energy of the molecules and the conditions of the environment.

The energy of the molecules is directly related to temperature; higher temperature means more molecules have sufficient energy for evaporation. The surrounding environment also plays a crucial role. If the surrounding air is already saturated with the vapor of liquid X (i.e., the air is at a high humidity), the rate of evaporation will be slower because the air has less capacity to accept more molecules. A breeze or wind can also increase the rate of evaporation by removing the saturated air layer close to the liquid surface, allowing for more evaporation to occur. Surface area also affects the rate; a larger surface area provides more molecules with access to the air, increasing the rate of evaporation.