We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Chemistry

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Evaporation?

Hillary Flynn
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 102,374
Share

Evaporation occurs when a liquid changes its state to form a gas or vapor. Most that occurs on Earth is the change from the liquid state of water to a water vapor. Though it looks very simple, water is not only the most abundant compound on Earth, it is also very complex. The quantity of water on the Earth never changes; it simply changes form as it passes through what is known as the water cycle. Each stage entails different processes that are required to change water to a new form.

Water has three different states: liquid, vapor, and ice. Evaporation of water is the process by which it changes from liquid to a vapor. To do this, water requires one of several conditions to be in place. For a body of water such as a lake, river, or ocean to allow some of its water molecules to switch from a liquid and be released as a water vapor into the air, heat from the sun must be present to initiate the process. A change in energy or pressure is always required from some source for this process to occur.

Water molecules contained in the same body of water, such as an ocean, do not have the same level of energy. Individual molecules with higher energy will break away from other molecules when the sun delivers heat, or energy, to the entire body of water. This is how evaporation occurs in oceans. The more energy supplied, the stronger some molecules become and the easier it is for them to break their bond to the water molecules with less kinetic energy. This is why boiling water also results in the change from liquid to vapor. The heat supplied from the stove provides the energy that allows some of the water molecules to escape into the air.

Another example is human perspiration. When the human body heats up with exertion, humans sweat, then the perspiration covering the skin evaporates to cool the body down. This occurs because the high energy molecules escape into the air as a water vapor, and some of the heat used in the process escapes as well. As a result, the skin and body are cooled down.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Hillary Flynn
By Hillary Flynn
Hillary Flynn's insatiable curiosity led her to join the All The Science team, where she contributes well-researched articles on various topics. In addition to her work with All The Science, Hillary manages an electronic publishing business that allows her to develop her skills in technical writing, graphic design, and business development. With a passion for satirical writing and traveling to historical places, Hillary brings a distinctive voice to her content.
Discussion Comments
By anon224167 — On Oct 22, 2011

this should be more detailed. it doesn't have all the information I need. Only very basic.

By anon194730 — On Jul 09, 2011

complicated. no one can understand.

By anon76795 — On Apr 12, 2010

very complicated!

By anon71660 — On Mar 19, 2010

this really helps with projects.

By anon58875 — On Jan 05, 2010

It's one of the first things you learn in chemistry class at grade 11!

By anon54977 — On Dec 03, 2009

does saran wrap prevent the water molecules from escaping into the air?

By anon54690 — On Dec 01, 2009

wow. this is quite difficult to catch.

By anon49596 — On Oct 21, 2009

i need to know where the water molecules go. Where do they go?

By anon45599 — On Sep 18, 2009

Very interesting.

By anon44893 — On Sep 11, 2009

i don't understand this.

Hillary Flynn
Hillary Flynn
Hillary Flynn's insatiable curiosity led her to join the All The Science team, where she contributes well-researched...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-is-evaporation.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.