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We have learned how water evaporates or vaporizes, then later condenses and falls down as rain. We also learned that some gases can be dissolved in rainwater and cause acid rain. Then we did a lab in class and discovered that alcohol evaporates very quickly! Where does all that alcohol go? Can it condense and rain down on us?
Question Date: 2011-01-02
Answer 1:

Well, if the vapor pressure of alcohol equals one atmosphere of pressure then it would rain down. Each material has its own vapor pressure versus Temperature curve... water boils at 100 deg C because its vapor pressure at 100 deg C equals 1 bar pressure... so with alcohol; it evaporates because at conditions in the room, the alcohol would rather be in gas state than as a liquid... the gas state is lower energy and hence favored... it just stays in the gas state...



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