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Why does an evaporating liquid cool down according to the Kinetic Molecular Theory?

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The highest velocity molecules are lost
User Nabuchodonozor
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5 votes

Answer:

Loss of molecules with high kinetic energy causes cooling of liquid during evaporation

Step-by-step explanation:

According to kinetic molecular theory, molecules which tend to evaporate or leave bulk liquid should possess kinetic energy higher than threshold kinetic energy. This threshold kinetic energy is the highest possible kinetic energy of a molecule can possess to stay inside a liquid.

Now, as we know, that kinetic energy of molecule is proportional to temperature. Therefore loss of these high energy molecules during evaporation causes lowering of temperature.

User Wayne Lo
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