Question

Why does spilled gasoline evaporate more rapidly on a hot day than on a cold day?

a) Because the increased temperature lowers the vapor pressure of gasoline
b) Because the increased temperature increases the vapor pressure of gasoline
c) Because the decreased temperature lowers the vapor pressure of gasoline
d) Because the decreased temperature increases the vapor pressure of gasoline

Answer 1

Gasoline evaporates more rapidly on a hot day because the increased temperature raises the vapor pressure of the liquid, enabling more molecules to escape into a gaseous state. Option b is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Spilled gasoline evaporates more rapidly on a hot day than on a cold day because the increased temperature increases the vapor pressure of gasoline. As the temperature rises, the average kinetic energy (KE) of the molecules of gasoline increases. This means a greater fraction of molecules will have sufficient energy to overcome the intermolecular forces keeping them in a liquid state, allowing them to escape into the air as vapor.

The vapor pressure refers to the pressure in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed phases in a closed system. All liquids have a specific vapor pressure, which increases with temperature. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is b) Because the increased temperature increases the vapor pressure of gasoline.