How is boiling different from evaporation?

Study for the Cambridge Science – States of Matter Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each question. Ready yourself for your exam!

Multiple Choice

How is boiling different from evaporation?

Explanation:
Boiling is rapid vaporization that happens throughout the liquid once it reaches its boiling point. At that temperature, the vapor pressure inside the liquid equals the surrounding pressure, so bubbles form inside the liquid and rise to the surface, turning the liquid into gas quickly. Evaporation is a slower process that only occurs at the surface and can happen at temperatures below the boiling point. Individual surface molecules gain enough energy to overcome the liquid’s cohesive forces and escape as gas, but the bulk of the liquid doesn’t need to be at the boiling point. So the best description is that boiling is rapid vaporization throughout the liquid at its boiling point, while evaporation is slower vaporization at the surface.

Boiling is rapid vaporization that happens throughout the liquid once it reaches its boiling point. At that temperature, the vapor pressure inside the liquid equals the surrounding pressure, so bubbles form inside the liquid and rise to the surface, turning the liquid into gas quickly.

Evaporation is a slower process that only occurs at the surface and can happen at temperatures below the boiling point. Individual surface molecules gain enough energy to overcome the liquid’s cohesive forces and escape as gas, but the bulk of the liquid doesn’t need to be at the boiling point.

So the best description is that boiling is rapid vaporization throughout the liquid at its boiling point, while evaporation is slower vaporization at the surface.

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