Question
Question: What is the process of changing a liquid to a gas called \(?\)...
What is the process of changing a liquid to a gas called ?
Solution
Hint : The most common states of matter are solid , liquid and gas . They are classified mainly into these three states based on the interatomic distances and forces . One thing we have to keep in mind is that , all these states are inter convertible by gaining and losing of energy as they undergo physical change .
Complete Step By Step Answer:
Matter in our surroundings exists mainly in 3 different states , namely , solids , liquids and gases .
Solids : Atoms or molecules are closely packed and have strong intermolecular forces of attraction .They have a definite shape and volume and have rigid boundaries .
Liquids : Here , the constituents are not that closely packed in solids and have lesser intermolecular forces of attraction than solids . They do not have a definite shape but have definite volume .
Gases : They have very weak intermolecular forces of attraction and the constituents are far apart from each . Gases have neither a definite shape nor volume . They attain the shape of the container they are kept in .
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All the three states are interconvertible and the processes that follow are :
(i)Melting
(ii)Vaporization
(iii)Condensation
(iv)Freezing
Apart from this , the process that involves conversion of solid directly to gas and vice versa is called sublimation .
Here , we are asked about the conversion of liquid to gas . The molecules of liquid attain certain energy from the surroundings in the form of heat and overcome the intermolecular forces of attraction between the molecules . Now , they are free to move around and is changed to gaseous state . This process of conversion of liquid to gaseous or vapour form is called vaporization . The temperature at which the liquid molecules changes to vapour is called boiling point .
For e g . the boiling point of water is100∘C . At this temperature , water molecules gets completed heated at change to water vapour .
Note :
The boiling point can be reduced when the surrounding pressure is low . This is why vegetables take longer time to cook at high altitudes as the atmospheric pressure is low there . Water starts to boil at a lower temperature .
The words evaporation and vaporization has been used inter changeably many at times . But evaporation is a surface phenomenon whereas vaporization is a bulk phenomenon .