Question

Which of the following is an accurate explanation for evaporative cooling?

A. molecules decompose
B. molecules vibrate in place
C. molecules slide across one another
D. molecules release heat to the environment
E. molecules absorb heat from the environment

Answer 1

Evaporative cooling occurs when molecules with enough kinetic energy escape from the liquid into gas, leaving the remaining liquid cooler as it has a lower average kinetic energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The explanation for evaporative cooling is that as molecules on the surface of a liquid gain enough kinetic energy from their surroundings, they can overcome intermolecular forces and evaporate into the gaseous phase. During this process, the remaining molecules in the liquid have lower average kinetic energy, resulting in the liquid's temperature dropping. This phenomenon can be observed in everyday life, such as when perspiration evaporates from the skin, leaving the skin cooler as heat is absorbed from the body to facilitate the change of water from the liquid to the vapor phase.