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Ch.12 - Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Chapter 12, Problem 58

Which evaporates more quickly: 100 mL of water (H2O) in a beaker or 100 mL of acetone [(CH3)2CO] in an identical beaker under identical conditions? Is the vapor pressure of the two substances different? Explain.

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1
Identify the substances involved: water (H_2O) and acetone ((CH_3)_2CO).
Understand that evaporation rate is influenced by vapor pressure; higher vapor pressure means faster evaporation.
Research the vapor pressures of water and acetone at the same temperature. Acetone generally has a higher vapor pressure than water.
Explain that because acetone has a higher vapor pressure, it will evaporate more quickly than water under identical conditions.
Conclude that the vapor pressures of water and acetone are different, with acetone having a higher vapor pressure, leading to faster evaporation.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Vapor Pressure

Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid or solid phase at a given temperature. It reflects the tendency of particles to escape from the liquid into the vapor phase. Substances with higher vapor pressures evaporate more quickly because more molecules have enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and enter the gas phase.
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Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction or repulsion between neighboring particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). These forces significantly influence a substance's boiling point and evaporation rate. Water, with strong hydrogen bonds, has higher intermolecular forces compared to acetone, which has weaker dipole-dipole interactions and London dispersion forces, leading to faster evaporation of acetone.
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Evaporation Rate

The evaporation rate is the speed at which molecules transition from the liquid phase to the vapor phase. It is influenced by factors such as temperature, surface area, and vapor pressure. In this scenario, acetone is expected to evaporate more quickly than water due to its lower boiling point and weaker intermolecular forces, despite both being in identical conditions.
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