Condensation

We explain what condensation is and what it consists of and under what conditions it occurs, with examples taken from everyday life.

The dew point is the temperature at which the condensation of water vapor in the air begins.
Summary of Contents

What is condensation?

Condensation is a change of state of matter, and consists of the process by which a gas or vapor is transformed into a liquid.

This process is more common in vapors than in gases, and occurs at atmospheric pressure (1 atm) when the temperature of the gas or vapor decreases.

Condensation generally occurs when a gas or vapor comes into contact with a cold surface, which causes its temperature to decrease and transforms into a liquid. Therefore, on cold surfaces you can see small drops of liquid corresponding to gas or condensed vapor.

Vaporization is the process (inverse of condensation) by which, due to an increase in temperature, a liquid is transformed into a gas.

Vapors or gases? The difference between a vapor and a gas is that gases exist at room temperature (25 ⁰C) and atmospheric pressure, while vapors are the result of heating a substance that is liquid or solid at room temperature.

See also: Evaporation

What is the condensation process?

  1. Start of the process: decrease in temperature. Condensation begins when the temperature of a gas or vapor decreases. This decrease brings the gas or vapor to its dew point. The dew point is the specific temperature at which condensation of water vapor in the air begins (at this temperature, fog, dew, clouds or frost can form).
  2. Reduction of particle mobility. As the temperature decreases, the particles that make up the gas or vapor reduce their mobility. This reduction in mobility facilitates greater interaction between the particles.
  3. Increased interactions and forces of attraction. With the increase in interactions between particles, the forces of attraction between them intensify. This causes the particles to stay closer together.
  4. Liquid formation. By being closer together and with greater attraction between them, the particles begin to form a liquid. This is the final result of the condensation process.
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This step-by-step summarizes how decreasing temperature leads to a series of changes in the particles of a gas or vapor, resulting in their transformation into a liquid through the process of condensation.

See also: Physical change

Examples of condensation

When water vapor comes into contact with cold air, fog is formed.

The condensation process can manifest itself in various ways in nature and in everyday life. For example:

  • The fog. When water vapor comes into contact with cold air, small water droplets suspended in the air are generated, forming fog.
  • Water condensation on cold drink containers. When water vapor present in the air comes into contact with the surface of a bottle or can containing a cold drink, small water droplets form on the surface of these containers.
  • Water condensation on bathroom mirrors. When the hot water vapor coming out of the shower hits the cooler surface of the mirror in the bathroom, it condenses and forms a film of water that fogs it up.
  • The clouds. When water vapor touches cold air, it condenses and many water droplets remain suspended in the air, forming clouds.
  • The dew. During the night, water vapor in the air condenses on colder surfaces, such as plant leaves. The droplets that form (dew drops) can be seen in the mornings on the leaves of plants and on the ground.
  • the frost. When water vapor condenses at temperatures below 0 ⁰C, the droplets transform into fine ice crystals that cover exposed surfaces. Frost can be seen on the floors as a thin layer of ice that covers them white.
  • The rain. When the droplets formed by the condensation of water vapor in the clouds become too large and fall under their own weight towards the Earth's surface, precipitation is generated in the form of rain or snow.
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Condensation in the water cycle

Condensation is one of the stages of the water cycle. The vapor (which is produced as a result of the evaporation of water from rivers, lakes, seas and other water deposits) rises mixed with the air until it comes into contact with cold air, which causes it to condense in the form of droplets and clouds form.

The condensation process is a very important stage of the water cycle, since It intervenes in the formation of clouds, from which precipitation or rain is generated, fundamental for the life of all living beings

Through the hydrological cycle, water moves both below and above the Earth's surface, changes its state of aggregation (solid, liquid and gas) and moves from one region to another.

Continue with: Liquefaction

References

  • J. Ribas, L. Roca. (2014) “Applied Sciences I. Natural Sciences I. High seas. ISBN: 978-84-15309-86-4
  • Alberto L. Capparelli (2013). “Basic physical chemistry” National University of La Plata. E-Book. ISBN 978-950-34-0972-5
  • Levine. Ira N. (2004). “Physical chemistry” McGRAW-HILL/Interamericana de España, S. A U. ISBN: 0-07-253495-8

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