PROJECT ON

WATER VAPOR
 INTRODUCTION
• Whenever a water module leaves
surface, it is said to have evaporated.
Each individual water molecule which
transaction between a more associated
(liquid) and a less associated (vapor/gas)
state does so through the absorption or
release of kinetic energy. The aggregate
measurement of this kinetic energy
transfer is defined as thermal energy and
occurs only when there is differential in
the temperature of the water molecules.
Liquid water that becomes water vapor
takes a parcel of heat with it, in a
process called evaporative cooling.
• The amount of water vapor in the air determines
how fast each molecule will return back to the
surface. When a net evaporation occurs, the body
of water will undergo a net cooling directly related
to the loss of water.
 GENERAL PROPERTIES OF WATER VAPOR
Systematic Name Water Vapor

Liquid State Water

Solid State Ice

Properties
Melting point 0oC

Boiling point 100oC

Specific gas constant 461.5 J/(kg.K)

Heat of vaporization 2.27 MJ/kg

Molecular weight 18.02g/mol

Specific heat capacity at constant pressure 18.kJ/(kg.K)

• Evaporative cooling is restricted by atmospheric condition. Humidity
is the amount of water vapor in the air. The vapor content of air with
device known as hygrometers. The measurements are usually
expressed as specific humidity or percent relative humidity. The
temperature of the atmosphere and the water surface determine the
equilibrium vapor pressure. This condition is often referred to as
complete saturation. Humidity ranges from 0 gram per cubic meter in
dry air to 30 grams per cubic meter (0.03 ounce per cubic foot) when
the vapor is saturated at 30o C.

• Another from evaporation is sublimation, by which water molecules

become gaseous directly from ice without first becoming liquid water.
Sublimation accounts for the slow mid-winter disappearance of ice
and snow at temperatures too low cause melting.
• Water vapor will only condense onto
another surface when that surface is cooler
than the dew point temperature, or when
the water vapor equilibrium in air has
exceeded. When water vapor condenses
onto a surface, a net warming occurs on the
surface. The water molecules bring heat
energy with it. In turn, the temperature of
the atmosphere drops slightly. In the
atmosphere, condensation produces clouds,
fog and precipitation (usually only when
facilitated by cloud condensation nuclei).
The dew point of an air parcel is the
temperature to which it must cool before
water vapor in the air begins to condense.
 Measurement

• Measuring the quantity of water

vapor in a medium can be done
directly or remotely with
varying degrees of accuracy.
Remote methods such
electromagnetic absorption is
possible from satellites above
planetary atmosphere. Direct
method may use electronic
transducers, moistened
thermometers or hygroscopic
materials measuring changes in
physical properties or
dimensions.
Water vapor density
 Saturated Vapor Pressure, Density for Water

-10 14 2.15 2.36 40 104 55.3 51.1

0 32 4.58 4.85 60 140 149.4 130.5

5 41 6.54 6.8 80 176 355.1 293.8

10 50 9.21 9.4 95 203 634 505

11 51.8 9.84 10.01 96 205 658 523

12 53.6 10.52 10.66 97 207 682 541

13 55.4 11.23 11.35 98 208 707 560

14 57.2 11.99 12.07 99 210 733 579

15 59 12.79 12.83 100 212 760 598

20 68 17.54 17.3 101 214 788 618

25 77 23.76 23 110 230 1074.6 ...

30 86 31.8 30.4 120 248 1489 ...

37 98.6 47.07 44 200 392 11659 7840

• The average molecular mass of air (approx 79% nitrogen, N2; 21%
oxygen, O2) is 28.57g/mol at standard temperature and pressure.

• Using Avogadro’s law and the ideal gas law, water vapor and air will
have a molar volume of 22.414 liter/mol at STP. A molar mass of air
and water vapor occupy the same volume of 24.414 liters. The density
(mass/volume) of water vapor is 0.804g/liter, which is significantly
less than that of dry air at 1.27g.liter at STP.

• STP conditions imply a temperature of 0O C, at which the ability

of the water to become vapor is very restricted. Its concentration
on air is very low at 0o C. the line on the chart to the right is the
maximum concentration of water vapor expected for a given
temperature. The water vapor concentration increases
significantly as the temperature rises, approaching 100%(steam,
pure water vapor) at 100o C. However the difference in densities
between air and water vapor would still exist.
 Below are some selected values of temperature and the saturated vapor pressures required to place
the boiling point at those temperatures. The pressures are stated in mega-
Rascals, where a Pascal is a Newton per square meter, and as a multiple of standard atmospheric pressure.

Temperature Pressure Pressure

(°C) (MPa) (Atmospheres)

100 0.101325 1

150 0.4762 4.700

200 1.55 15.297

250 3.976 39.24

300 8.588 84.757

350 16.529 163.13

373.946 22.064 217.75