The latent heat of vaporization has the effect of cooling a liquid because ________.
A)a solid absorbs heat from the atmosphere when it becomes vapor
B)when something becomes a gas it releases heat,and the liquid gets cooler as a result
C)the gas molecules that form and leave the liquid are the higher temperature molecules in the liquid,so the temperature of the liquid is reduced
D)the liquid that forms the gas molecules absorbs and stores heat until all of the liquid becomes a gas
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The process of vaporization involves the higher temperature molecules in the liquid leaving the liquid as gas molecules. This means that the remaining liquid has a lower temperature, leading to cooling. The latent heat of vaporization is the energy required to convert a liquid into a gas without changing its temperature. So, it does not involve absorbing or releasing heat, but rather the absorption or release of energy required for the state change. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

The Latent Heat of Vaporization Has the Effect of Cooling