Vaporization and Evaporation which is a part of vaporization are the processes that are nothing but a phase transition of a substance from a solid or liquid state to gas. They are often used interchangeably but the two terms are quite different from each other. In this article, we provide a detailed overview of the major difference Between vaporization and Evaporation with examples.
What is Vaporization?
Vaporization can be defined as the process in which the liquid state changes into the vapour state. There are two types of vaporization:evaporation and boiling. Evaporation refers to the surface of a body of liquid turning into gas, such as a drop of water on the concrete turning into a gas on a hot day. Boiling refers to heating up a liquid until it releases vapor, such as heating water on a stove until steam forms. In other words, evaporation is a surface phenomenon, whereas boiling is a bulk phenomenon.
As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the particles increases. Some particles are able to break the intermolecular forces keeping them in liquid form, and they rise in their gaseous form and escape into the surroundings in the form of vapors.
Vaporisation can also refer to the physical destruction of an object due to intense heat. It is the process of applying heat to change something from a solid or liquid to a gas. It changes matter from one state or phase into another without changing its chemical composition.
An increase in temperature, surface area or air movement will increase the rate of vaporization. As the pressure increases, however, it is more difficult for particles to gain kinetic energy and escape, and vaporization will decrease.
Examples of Vaporization in Our Daily Life
- Industrially, salt is recovered from sea water by the process of vaporization.
- Wet clothes are dried up due to the process of vaporization.
- The process is used in many industrial processes for separating the components of a mixture.
What is Evaporation?
Evaporation occurs on the surface level of a liquid, in which molecules with kinetic energy are activated by a heat source. The heat source causes the molecules to break bonds with one another and turn into a gas. For example, the sun may cause a lake to evaporate by heating up the molecules on the lake’s surface. When these molecules are heated, they rise into the air as steam.
Evaporation is a phase transition from the liquid phase to vapor (a state of substance below critical temperature) that occurs at temperatures below the boiling temperature at a given pressure. Evaporation occurson the surface. Evaporation only occurs when the partial pressure of vapor of a substance is less than the equilibrium vapor pressure. For example, due to constantly decreasing pressures, vapor pumped out of a solution will eventually leave behind a cryogenic liquid.
Evaporation is responsible for drying clothes and transpiration in plants. Water never comes to a “boil” in these cases but rather evaporate away.
Vaporization vs Evaporation: Key Differences
| Vaporization | Evaporation |
| Vaporization is the process of conversion of solid or liquid into gaseous form. | Evaporation is the change of a liquid into gaseous form. |
| Vaporization is a bulk phenomenon. | Evaporation is a surface phenomenon. |
| Vaporization can change the state of matter from a solid or liquid to a gas. | During evaporation, the liquid state of matter is turned directly into a gas. |
| Bubbles are formed in the process of vaporization. | In evaporation, bubbles aren’t formed. |
| Vaporization occurs at a constant temperature and pressure. | Evaporation can occur at any temperature. |
| External factors do not affect the process of vaporization. | Evaporation is affected by external factors. |
| When vaporization occurs, molecules could come from below the surface when the liquid is boiling. | During evaporation, the molecules vaporize only from the surface of the liquid. |
| Vaporization is a fast and violent process. | Evaporation is a slow process. |
Key Takeaways
Description
- Vaporization: Vaporization is a phase transition in which a liquid is converted into a vapor (gas) by adding heat energy. It can occur throughout the entire volume of the liquid and typically happens at a specific temperature called the boiling point.
- Evaporation: Evaporation is also the conversion of a liquid into a vapor, but it occurs at the liquid’s surface and is a gradual process. Evaporation does not require the liquid to reach its boiling point; instead, it occurs at any temperature below the boiling point.
Location
- Vaporization: Vaporization can occur both at the surface of a liquid and within the liquid bulk when it reaches its boiling point. It happens throughout the entire volume of the liquid during boiling.
- Evaporation: Evaporation only occurs at the surface of a liquid and does not involve the bulk of the liquid. It happens even when the liquid is below its boiling point.
Temperature
- Vaporization: Vaporization requires the liquid to reach its specific boiling point temperature. The temperature remains constant during boiling until all the liquid is vaporized.
- Evaporation: Evaporation can occur at any temperature below the boiling point of the liquid. It is more temperature-dependent and occurs more slowly at lower temperatures.
Rate
- Vaporization: The rate of vaporization during boiling is typically much faster compared to evaporation because it involves the entire volume of the liquid and the input of heat energy is constant.
- Evaporation: The rate of evaporation is generally slower than boiling because it only occurs at the liquid’s surface and depends on factors such as temperature, humidity, and surface area.
Examples
- Vaporization: Boiling water in a pot is an example of vaporization. The entire volume of water turns into steam as it reaches the boiling point.
- Evaporation: Water evaporating from a puddle on a sunny day or clothes drying on a clothesline is an example of evaporation. In both cases, the liquid slowly turns into vapor at the surface.