EXPLANATION
GS16. What is the process by which a liquid turns into a gas at the surface?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Sublimation
d) Melting
ANSWER: b) Evaporation
EXPLANATION:
The process by which a liquid turns into a gas at the surface is b) evaporation.
Condensation is the process by which a gas turns into a liquid. Sublimation is the process by which a solid turns into a gas without going through the liquid state. Melting is the process by which a solid turns into a liquid.
Evaporation occurs when the molecules at the surface of a liquid have enough energy to escape from the liquid and enter the gas phase. This process is driven by the fact that the molecules in the gas phase have more energy than the molecules in the liquid phase. The higher the temperature of the liquid, the faster the molecules will evaporate.
Evaporation is important in many natural processes, such as the water cycle and the formation of clouds. It is also important in many industrial processes, such as the drying of clothes and the production of alcohol.
