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Rate of Evaporation
Name: Sara
Status: educator
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000
Question:
My third grade class has been studying water and the
properties of evaporation. We are wondering why during an experiement
did vinegar evaporate faster than any other liquid we used?
Replies:
Hi Sara!
Look...first thing: if you are dealing with different liquids, the rate of
evaporation (faster or slower) will depend upon the liquids you
are using at the the experiment, the faster at one group, can be
the slower at another one.
2) each liquid substance has a "specific heat of vaporization"
that means the quantity of heat required to change exactly one
gram of it into vapour at its boiling point.
3) vaporization occurs at the boiling point, but evaporation
can occur at a much lower temperature. The rate of evaporation
is affected by many factors as the room temperature, the surface
of the liquid exposed, air currents and so on.
4) Vinegar is a commercial product , usually a dilute (4-5%) aqueous
solution of acetic acid, so it is mostly water, if the other liquids
you mention are organic as alcohol, ether, acetone, they will evaporate
much faster than the vinegar itself.
Experiments must be based into observation of facts, that are
reproduced upon the same circonstances or situations.
I'd recommend that you repeat the experiment and ask again telling
us exactly all the facts.
And
Thanks for asking NEWTON!
Mabel
(Dr. Mabel Rodrigues)
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Update: June 2012
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