Question

Define condensation.

Answer 1

Hint: When the vapors of the water on boiling appear in the form of small droplets on the surface of the lid that was closing the container in which the water was being boiled, we say that the water vapors were condensed. It is widely used in the cooling towers in the industries to separate and recollect liquids having a large difference in their boiling points.

Complete step by step answer:
Condensation is the change of the physical state of matter from the gaseous phase into its liquid phase, and is the reverse process of vaporization. The word most often refers to the water cycle taking place in the atmosphere. It can also be defined as the change in the state of water vapor to liquid water when in contact with a liquid or solid surface or cloud condensation nuclei within the atmosphere. When the transition happens from the gaseous phase into the solid phase directly, the change is called deposition. In nature, when condensation occurs, it follows a precipitation later. Condensation is initiated by the formation of atomic/ molecular clusters of that species within its gaseous volume like rain or snow flake formation within the light weighted clouds or at the contact between such gaseous phases and a liquid or solid surface. In clouds, this can be catalyzed by water-nucleating proteins, produced by the atmospheric microbes, which are capable of binding the gaseous or liquid water molecules.


Note:
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.