How does the presence of intermolecular forces affect the rate of evaporation of various liquids?
1 Answer
Aug 12, 2015
Intermolecular forces are a measure of the interaction between molecules; the stronger the intermolecular force, the higher the boiling point, and the slower the rate of evaporation.
Explanation:
Put out bowls of (i) ethanol, (ii) water, and (iii) salty water, in the open, and in a short time all the ethanol will have evaporated. Water, which possesses greater forces of interaction between its particles, will be the next to evaporate, and lastly, the salt water will evaporate, because not only do water/water interactions operate as in pure water, there are water/salt forces of interactions.
In summary, the greater the degree of particle/particle interaction, the higher the boiling point, and the slower the rate of evaporation.
