Answer:
Evaporation is a physical process by which a liquid transforms into a gas or vapor phase. It occurs when the temperature of the liquid is increased, which causes the kinetic energy of the liquid molecules to increase. This increased kinetic energy allows some of the liquid molecules to break free from the surface of the liquid and enter the gas or vapor phase.
At the molecular level, a liquid is made up of molecules that are held together by intermolecular forces. These forces are responsible for keeping the molecules in close proximity to one another, creating a cohesive liquid state. However, not all of the molecules in a liquid have the same energy. Some molecules have more energy than others due to random collisions with other molecules or from absorbing heat.
As the temperature of the liquid increases, the average kinetic energy of the molecules also increases. This means that some of the molecules in the liquid will have enough energy to overcome the intermolecular forces that hold them in the liquid state. These molecules will break free from the surface of the liquid and enter the gas or vapor phase, a process known as evaporation.
The molecules that escape from the liquid during evaporation do not do so randomly. Instead, the molecules that have the highest kinetic energy are the most likely to escape, as they have enough energy to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them in the liquid state. This means that the molecules that are left behind in the liquid have a lower average kinetic energy than the molecules that have escaped. As a result, the liquid's temperature decreases as evaporation occurs, as the higher energy molecules are removed from the system.
Step-by-step explanation:
In summary, the escape of molecules during evaporation is the result of an increase in the average kinetic energy of the liquid molecules due to heating. The molecules with the highest kinetic energy overcome the intermolecular forces that hold them in the liquid state, allowing them to escape and enter the gas or vapor phase. This process continues until the liquid is completely evaporated or until the temperature of the liquid reaches equilibrium with its surroundings.