CHEMISTRY PROJECT

REPORT
ON
RATE OF
EVAPORATION OF
DIFFERENT LIQUIDS

By :

RATE OF EVAPORATION OF DIFFERENT

LIQUIDS
Acknowledgement :
I am greatly thankful for the cooperation and help from ----- and
------ for the successful completion of this project. Without their
help and proper guidance , this project might not have completed.

Objective of the Project :

This project is aimed at finding the rate of evaporation of different
liquids, in which we also discuss the factors which affect the rate
of evaporation of liquid.

Introduction :
Evaporation is the process whereby atoms or molecules in a liquid
state (or solid state if the substance sublimes) gain sufficient
energy to enter the gaseous state. The thermal motion of a
molecule must be sufficient to overcome the surface tension of the
liquid in order for it to evaporate, that is, its kinetic energy must
exceed the work function of cohesion at the surface. Evaporation
therefore proceeds more quickly at higher temperature and in
liquids with lower surface tension. Since only a small proportion

of the molecules are located near the surface and are moving in the
proper direction to escape at any given instant, the rate of
evaporation is limited. Also, as the faster-moving molecules
escape, the remaining molecules have lower average kinetic
energy, and the temperature of the liquid thus decreases. If the
evaporation takes place in a closed vessel, the escaping molecules
accumulate as a vapor above the liquid. Many of the molecules
return to the liquid, with returning molecules becoming more
frequent as the density and pressure of the vapor increases. When
the process of escape and return reaches equilibrium, the vapor is
said to be saturated, and no further change in either vapor
pressure and density or liquid temperature will occur.

Factors affecting the rate of evaporation

(1) Nature of Liquids : The magnitude of inter-molecular forces
of attraction in liquid determine the speed of evaporation. Weaker
the inter-molecular forces of attraction larger is the extent of
evaporation. In diethyl ether rate of evaporation is greater than that
of ethyl alcohol.

(2) Temperature : The rate of evaporation of liquids varies

directly with temperature. With the increase in the temperature,
fraction of molecules having sufficient kinetic energy to escape
out from the surface also increases. Thus with the increase in
temperature rate of evaporation also increases.

(3) Surface Area : Molecules that escape the surface of the liquids
constitute the evaporation. Therefore larger surface area
contributes accelerating evaporation.

(4) Composition of Environment : The rate of evaporation of

liquids depends upon the flow of air currents above the surface of
the liquid. Air current flowing over the surface of the liquid took
away the molecules of the substance in vapour state there by
preventing condensation.

Experiment no. 1
Aim : To compare the rates of evaporation of acetone, benzene and
chloroform.
Requirement : Three same size Petri dishes of diameter 10 cm., 10 ml.
pipettes, stop watch, acetone benzene and chloroform.
Procedure :
1. Clean and dry all Petri dishes and identify them as A, B and C.
2. Pipette out of 10 ml. acetone in Petri dish "A" with stopper similarly
pipette out of 10 ml. of benzene and chloroform in each of Petri "B" and
"C".
3. Remove the cover plates from all Petri dishes and start the stop watch.
4. Let the Petri dishes remain exposed for 10 minute. Now cover each of
the petri dish and note the volume of remaining material in them.

Observation :
Time : 10 min. = 600 Sec.
Petri dishes
Marked

Liquid Taken
(V1) ml.

Volume
remaining
(V2) ml.

Vol. Evap.
V=V1V2

Rate (V/T)
ml./s

10

8/600=0.0133

10

7/600=0.0116

10

6/600=0.010

Results :
Rate of evaporation of Acetone is 0.0133 ml/s.
Rate of evaporation of Benzene is 0.0166 ml/s.
Rate of evaporation of Chloroform is 0.010 ml/s.
Conclusion :
The intermolecular forces of acetone, benzene and chloroform are in order.
Chloroform > Benzene > Acetone.

Experiment no. 2

Aim : To study the effect of air current on the rate of evaporation of

acetone.
Requirement : Two Petri dishes acetone.
Procedure :
1. Clean and dry the Petri dishes and mark them as A and B.
2. Keep one dish where no air current and other under a fast air current.
3. Note the reading.

Observation :
Initial Volume 10 ml. of Acetone.
Petri dishes
Marked

Conditions

Time (Sec.)

volume
Evaporated
(ml.)

With fan

40

10

without fan

50

10

Results : The order of evaporation of acetone in two Petri dishes as given

With fan > Without Fan..
Conclusion : The rate of evaporation of liquid increases with the increase
in rate of flow of air current.

Experiment no. 3
Aim : To study the effect of surface area on the rate of evaporation of
diethylether.
Requirement : Three Petri dishes of diameter 2.5 cm., 5 cm., 7.5 cm. with
cover, 10 ml. of pipette and stop watch.
Procedure :
1. Clean and dry all Petri dishes and mark them as A, B and C.
2. Pipette out of 10 ml. diethylether in each of the Petri dishes A, B and C
and cover them immediately.
3. Uncover all three Petri dishes and start the stop watch.
4. Note the remaining volume after 10 min. vaporization of diethyl ether
from each Petri dish.
Observation :
Time : 10 min. = 600 Sec.
Petri dishes
Marked

Diameter of
P.T.Ds.

Volume Taken
(ml.)

Remaining
Vol. (ml.)

Evaporated
volume

2.5

10

5.0

10

7.5

10

10

Results : The order of evaporation of acetone in three petri dishes as 7.5 >
5.0 > 2.5 cm.
Conclusion : Larger the surface area more is evaporation.