Question

Evaporation occurs when the molecules at the surface of a liquid gain enough _______ to overcome the _______ of other molecules in the liquid phase.

Answer 1

Evaporation happens when surface liquid molecules gain enough kinetic energy to break free from intermolecular forces, turning into gas and creating vapor pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

Evaporation occurs when the molecules at the surface of a liquid gain enough kinetic energy to overcome the intermolecular forces of other molecules in the liquid phase. This physical process, known as vaporization or evaporation, involves molecules absorbing enough energy to enter the gas or vapor phase, creating what is called vapor pressure. The escape of molecules from the liquid phase to the gas phase is dependent on the molecules having a kinetic energy greater than a certain threshold. This energy helps them to overcome the attractive forces that hold them in the liquid. As temperature increases, the average kinetic energy of the molecules increases as well, leading to more molecules having the energy to vaporize.

On a practical level, we experience the effects of evaporative cooling in everyday life. For example, on a hot day, the water molecules in perspiration absorb body heat and evaporate from the surface of your skin, leaving behind a cooling sensation.

Answer 2

Evaporation occurs when the molecules at the surface of a liquid gain enough energy to overcome the force of attraction of other molecules in the liquid phase.
When a molecule of a liquid near the surface absorbs enough energy to overcome the vapor pressure, that molecule will escape from liquid and get in the surrounding air as a gas.