Condensation is the process by which a substance changes from a vapour state to a liquid state.
Experiment on Condensation
If some water is boiled in a kettle, steam will escape from the mouth of the kettle. If you hold a cold glass plate near the mouth of the kettle, you will see that water has accumulated on the plate. This is because the steam or water vapour in contact with the cold plate condenses and forms water droplets.
Natural Condensation
The formation of dew, fog and clouds in nature are examples of natural condensation.
Examples of Condensation
If you put cold water or ice in a glass or steel glass, why do water droplets appear on the glass?
If you put cold water or a few ice cubes in a dry glass or steel glass, after a while you will see water droplets on the glass. This is because the water vapour in the air comes into contact with the cold glass, cools, condenses and forms water droplets on the glass.
Why steam from boiling water in a kettle appears white?
Steam is a colourless gaseous substance. But the steam that comes out of the boiling water in the kettle looks white. The temperature outside the kettle is much lower than the temperature of the steam. So the colourless steam comes out of the mouth of the kettle and comes into contact with the relatively cold air and condenses into water droplets. Water particles float in the air with steam. Steam appears white when light shines on those water particles.
Also, Read
What is Evaporation?
The Boiling Point of Liquids
