Condensation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that Condensation (aerosol dynamics) be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Water vapor condenses into a liquid after making contact with the surface of a cold bottle.

Condensation on a window during a rain shower.

Condensation is the change of the physical state of aggregation (or simply state) of matter from gaseous phase into liquid phase and the reverse of evaporation.^[1] When the transition happens from the gaseous phase into the solid phase directly, bypassing the liquid phase, the change is called deposition. While condensation can occur in many different substances, the condensation of water vapor in air is by far the most common experienced (such as the formation of dew on a cold drink).

Condensation commonly occurs when a vapor is cooled to its dew point, but the dew point can also be reached through compression. The condensed vapor is called a condensate, the laboratory or the industrial equipment used for condensation is called a condenser.

The science of studying the thermodynamic properties of moist air and the interrelationships between these in order to analyze, and predict properties by changing in the conditions of moist air is called psychrometry. The interrelationship can be graphically represented, and prediction carried out graphically by the psychrometric chart. Most people think the water is condensation, but condensation is only the process of change.

Water vapor that naturally condenses on cold surfaces into liquid water is called dew. Water vapor will normally only condense onto another surface when the temperature of that surface is cooler than the temperature of the water vapor.

[edit] Applications of condensation

Condensation is a crucial component of distillation, an important laboratory and industrial chemistry application.

Because condensation is a naturally occurring phenomenon, it can often be used to generate water in large quantities for human use; Many structures are made solely for the purpose of collecting water from condensation, such as air wells and fog fences. Such systems can often be used to retain soil moisture in areas where active desertification is occurring—so much so that some organizations educate people living in affected areas about water condensers to help them deal effectively with the situation.^[2]

[edit] See also

• Air well (condenser)
• Kelvin equation
• Retrograde condensation
• Phase diagram
• Phase transition
• Condenser (heat transfer)
• Surface condenser
• Bose–Einstein condensate

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• "Condensation principles (Picture)". http://www.ces.purdue.edu/pork/images/jones/condense.jpg. 

[edit] External links

• Guide to condensation in buildings and how to overcome

This physics-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This climatology/meteorology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This biology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e