Science Questions and Answers - Boiling, Pressure, and Condensation
Science Questions and Answers - Boiling, Pressure, and Condensation
Q1. Does water have a sharp melting point?
A1. Yes, pure water has a sharp melting point at 0°C (32°F) under standard atmospheric pressure. This
means it melts (or freezes) at exactly that temperature, without a range.
Q2. How is the freezing and melting point of water the same?
A2. The freezing point and melting point of water are the same because they represent the same temperature
(0°C) at which water changes between solid (ice) and liquid states, depending on whether heat is being
added or removed.
Q3. What do you mean by volatile liquid?
A3. A volatile liquid is one that evaporates quickly at room temperature due to its high vapor pressure.
Examples include alcohol and acetone.
Q4. What do you mean by, at normal temperatures, to condense a gas into a liquid by increasing the
pressure without cooling?
A4. This means that if a gas is below its critical temperature, it can be turned into a liquid by compressing it
(increasing pressure), even without lowering the temperature.
Q5. How do you increase the pressure to condense a gas into a liquid?
A5. You increase pressure by using a gas compressor or by enclosing the gas in a sealed container and
reducing its volume (e.g., with a piston). This forces the gas molecules closer together until they condense
into a liquid.
Science Questions and Answers - Boiling, Pressure, and Condensation
Q6. When external pressure is increased, does it cause water molecules to stick together and form bubbles?
A6. No, increasing external pressure does not help water molecules stick together to form bubbles. In fact, it
makes it harder for bubbles to form, as boiling requires the vapor pressure inside bubbles to match the
external pressure.
Q7. Is there a difference between water boiling in a glass kettle and a metal kettle?
A7. Yes. In a glass kettle, you can see the bubbles forming throughout the liquid, making the boiling process
visible. In a metal kettle, you can't see the boiling inside, but you see the steam escaping. Both heat water in
the same way; the difference is visibility.
Differences Between Water Boiling in a Glass Kettle and a Metal Kettle:
| Feature | Glass Kettle | Metal Kettle |
|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Material | Transparent glass | Opaque metal |
| Visibility of boiling process | Bubbles visible inside | Cannot see inside the kettle |
| What is visible | Bubbles in the liquid | Steam cloud outside |
| Type of observation | Internal observation of boiling | External release of steam
| Water vapor seen? | Bubbles seen, vapor not clearly visible | Condensed steam cloud is visible
| Use in experiments | Suitable for visual science demonstration | Used mainly for practical boiling
|
Science Questions and Answers - Boiling, Pressure, and Condensation
Key Science Idea:
- Both kettles boil water the same way - by heating it until the vapor pressure equals atmospheric pressure,
and bubbles form.
- The difference is what you can observe: glass lets you see the boiling process inside, while metal only lets
you see the resulting steam.
