Ask A Scientist Materials Science Archive

name         Jimmy
status       student
grade        9-12
location     GU

Question -   I have a question about refrigerants used to cool your
house in an air conditioner. What gives a refrigerant its ability to so
rapidly change its state from liquid to gas, and at such different
temperatures? Thank You.
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The rate of evaporation or condensation of refrigerants depends upon the
heat exchanger, which is more a mechanical engineering design issue than
the chemical nature of the refrigerant itself. The heat of vaporization
(condensation) between the cold and hot temperatures at which the fluid
functions does not change that much.

Vince Calder
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