Condensation

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For other uses of the term, see Condensation (disambiguation)

Water vapor condensing over a cup of hot tea

Condensation is the change in matter of a substance to a denser phase, such as a gas (or vapor) to a liquid. Condensation commonly occurs when a vapor is cooled to a liquid, but can also occur if a vapor is compressed (i.e., pressure on it increased) into a liquid, or undergoes a combination of cooling and compression. Liquid which has been condensed from a vapor is called condensate. A device or unit used to condense vapors into liquid is called a condenser. Condensers are typically coolers or heat exchangers which are used for various purposes, have various designs, and come in many sizes ranging from rather small (hand-held) to very large.

Condensation of vapor into liquid is the opposite of evaporation or boiling and is an exothermic process, meaning it releases heat. The water seen on the outside of a cold glass on a hot day is condensation.

[edit] Condensation of water in nature

Dew on a spider web

Water vapor from air which naturally condenses on cold surfaces into liquid water is called dew. Water vapour will only condense onto another surface when that surface is cooler than the temperature of the water vapor, or when the water vapor equilibrium in air, i. e. saturation humidity, has been exceeded. When water vapor condenses onto a surface, a net warming occurs on that surface.

Condensation on a cold bottle of water.

The water molecule brings a parcel of heat with it. In turn, the temperature of the atmosphere drops very slightly. In the atmosphere, condensation of water vapour is what produces clouds. The dew point of an air parcel is the temperature to which it must cool before condensation in the air begins to form.

Also, a net condensation of water vapor occurs on surfaces when the temperature of the surface is at or below the dew point temperature of the atmosphere. Deposition is a type of condensation. Frost and snow are examples of deposition (or sublimation). Deposition is the direct formation of ice from water vapor.

[edit] Applications of Condensation

Because condensation is a naturally occuring phenomenon, it can often be used to generate water in large quantities for human use. In fact, there are many structures that are made solely for the purpose of collecting water from condensation, such as fog fences, air wells, and dew ponds.

Such systems can often be used to retain soil moisture in areas where active desertification is occuring. In fact, certain organizations use education about water condensers in efforts to effectively aid such areas.[1]

[edit] References

• Condensation principles (Picture).
• Air Wells, Dew Ponds, and Fog Fences: Methods to Condense Atmospheric Humidity.