Boiling, Atmospheric Pressure, & Vapor Pressure

By understanding the physical phenomenon of boiling, other concepts, such as the effect of temperature on molecules, atmospheric pressure, vapor pressure, intermolecular forces, and temperature become more accessible.

Video: Boiling, Atmospheric Pressure, and Vapor Pressure

A few key ideas:

  • To understand pressure you need to visualize the atoms/molecules colliding. These collisions create pressure and are the basis of Collision Theory.
  • Boiling occurs when the atmospheric pressure and the vapor pressure are equal.
  • The bubbles in a boiling liqued are NOT air. They are the liquid that has changed states to a gas. In boiling water the bubbles are made up of water molecules in a gaseous state.
  • When we measure atomospheric pressure on earth we are measuring the weight of the air above us pushing down.
  • Vapor pressure is a result of molecules of a liquid escaping the surface and colliding with molecules of air. These collisions create vapor pressure.

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