GRADE : IX

SUBJECT : CHEMISTRY
ASSIGNMENT : 4

TOPIC- MATTER IN OUR SURROUNDINGS

TOPIC- Evaporation

You must have seen that when wet clothes are spread under sun, they dry up or the wheat
grains are often dried under the Sun before sending to mill for converting to flour. This is due
to the phenomenon of evaporation that is taking place.
Evaporation is the process of change of liquid into vapor at temperature below its boiling point.

Explanation of Evaporation on the basis of Molecular Structure

During evaporation, the liquid particles are heated or they take the heat energy from the
surroundings. When heat is taken by particles, the energy of particles increases due to which
they start moving rapidly.
 GRADE : IX
SUBJECT : CHEMISTRY
ASSIGNMENT : 4

As a result, they collide with one another. In the course of collisions, some particles loose
energy and some gain energy. As a result, particles with higher energy overcome their force of
attraction and escape into the atmosphere.
Factors on which Evaporation Depends:
 Surface area
 Temperature
 Humidity
 Wind speed
Lets explain the dependence of the phenomenon on these given factors:

1. Surface Area - More is the exposed surface area of any substance more liquid droplets
will change to vapor state
For example: Drying of Wet Clothes
We have seen that clothes dry faster when they are spread on a line. The reason is that
when we spread them, the surface area gets increased, therefore, evaporation gets
increased as more and more molecules are exposed.
2. Temperature: Increase in temperature, increases the Kinetic Energy of molecules. They
break their force of attraction, hence, escape or evaporate readily.
 GRADE : IX
SUBJECT : CHEMISTRY
ASSIGNMENT : 4

For example: Formation of Water vapor on cup of Hot Tea. It is because as temperature
rises, the particles start moving randomly, therefore, evaporation rate is increased.
Therefore, when they escape, they also collide with the cup and get condensed.
3. Humidity: More is Humidity less in the Evaporation
For example- Clothes dry with difficulty on a humid day: because as humidity is more,
that is more vapour in the atmosphere.
Due to which the escaping tendency of vapours decreases so as the rate of evaporation
decreases.
4. Wind Speed: With increase in speed of wind, evaporation increases.
That is the reason why clothes dry faster if there is a windy day. As the speed of wind is
high, the liquid particles take up the energy. As a result, their kinetic energy increases
and they escape more readily and more easily.
How does Evaporation Cause Cooling?
 Evaporation causes cooling naturally. The underlying principle behind this is, in
order to change its state, the matter must either gain or lose energy. In the case of
change of phase from liquid to gas, molecules of matter require energy to
overcome their potential energy by their kinetic energy. So, the liquid takes this
energy from its surroundings.
 Generally, when energy transfer occurs, it results in an increase or decrease in
temperature of the substance, depending on whether the energy is being
transferred from the substance to the surroundings or vice versa. However, there
are exceptions to this rule.
 Although there is an increase in temperature of the substance until the boiling
point is attained during evaporation, phase change results in no observable heat
transfer.
 The molecules of the substance absorb heat energy continuously from the
surroundings and thus cool the surroundings until they reach the boiling point,
after which they start to break free from the liquid and turn into vapour. Since
there is no change in temperature till the evaporation process is complete i.e. the
entire liquid gets converted into vapour, the amount of energy required for this
phase change is called the latent heat of vaporization, where the word ‘latent’
 GRADE : IX
SUBJECT : CHEMISTRY
ASSIGNMENT : 4

means ‘hidden’, meaning this heat will not change the temperature reading on a
thermometer.
Applications of Evaporative Cooling:
1. We sweat in order to cool our bodies. Perspiration is essentially evaporation. Water from
our body evaporates, taking energy from our body in the process and thus results in the
lowering of our body temperature.
2. During the summer, we wear cotton clothes. Cotton, being a good absorber of water
allows more sweat to be in contact with the atmosphere, consequently helping in more
evaporation. It is for this reason that we feel cooler when we wear cotton clothes.
3. Water is stored in earthen pots to make it cool. The pores of the earthen pot, just like the
pores of cotton cloth provide a larger surface area for more evaporation.
4. An air cooler is more effective on hot, dry days. The basic principle behind the working
of an air cooler is evaporative cooling. As on a hot, dry day, the temperature is high and
humidity is low, the evaporation rate is higher. The water takes energy from the air and
gets converted to vapour. This makes the air cooler.
 GRADE : IX
SUBJECT : CHEMISTRY
ASSIGNMENT : 4

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
1. What is evaporation?
2. State any one difference between evaporation and boiling.
3. How is condensation different from evaporation?
4. Does humidity cause any effect on the rate of evaporation?
5. Is the rate of evaporation same throughout the daytime?

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:

1. What are the factors affecting evaporation?
2. How does the rate of evaporation change with wind speed?
3. Why does the water kept in earthen pot appear cooler?
4. Why do the clothes dry more quickly on a windy day?
5. Sitting under a fan after sweating brings cooling sensation. Explain why.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:

1. Explain about evaporation on the basis of molecular structure.
2. Mention all the factors on which evaporation depends. Also state how the rate of
evaporation changes on bringing any change in the factors mentioned by you in the
answer.
3. Plot a graph showing the relation between rate of evaporation and humidity.
4. Justify the reason why cotton clothes are preferred more in summer.
5. Explain in detail about the mechanism related to cooling caused by evaporation. Support
your answer with the help of a diagram.