Question

Define evaporation. Explain any two factors affecting its rate.

Answer 1

Evaporation is the surface phenomenon in which the particles at the surface gain enough energy to turn into vapour. There is a number of factors that affect the rate of evaporation.

1. Temperature: The rate of evaporation increases in increasing the temperature of the liquid. When the temperature of the liquid is increased by heating it, more particles of the liquid get enough kinetic energy to get into the vapour state. This increases the rate of evaporation.

2. Humidity of Air: When the humidity of air is low then the rate of evaporation is high and water evaporated more readily. The wet clothes dry quickly under the conditions of low humidity of air this is because when the humidity is low, the amount of water vapour present in the air is small.