As water evaporates from an open container at 40°C, which one of the following is true?

A. The water becomes warmer as the kinetic energy of the liquid water molecules increases.

B. The water molecules decompose into hydrogen and oxygen molecules.

C. The water molecules return to the surface as fast as they leave.

D. The water vapor molecules have greater kinetic energy than the liquid water molecules.

The vapor molecules have greater KE than the liquid ones have. That"s how they break free of the liquid and waft away.

Answered by AL2006 | 2024-06-10

The correct answer to the question is D: the water vapor molecules have greater kinetic energy than the liquid water molecules. This is because during evaporation, the molecules with higher kinetic energy escape into the vapor phase, leaving the remaining liquid cooler with lower average kinetic energy. Thus, evaporating molecules are more energetic than those that remain in the liquid state.
;

Answered by AL2006 | 2024-12-18