Question

The boiling point of a liquid is defined as the temperature at which the equilibrium vapor pressure is:

Select the correct answer below:
a. 0 atm
b. 1 atm
c. 100 atm
d. equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by its surroundings

Answer 1

The boiling point of a liquid is when its equilibrium vapor pressure d. equals the surrounding pressure, typically atmospheric pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The boiling point of a liquid is defined as the temperature at which the equilibrium vapor pressure is equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by its surroundings. In the context of an open container on Earth, this surrounding pressure is typically the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is d. equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by its surroundings. The normal boiling point of a liquid occurs when this surrounding pressure is exactly 1 atm (101.3 kPa), which for water is 100°C.