Which change would increase the rate of evaporation in a liquid in a container?

Which change would increase the rate of evaporation in a liquid in a container?

• A. Increasing humidity.
• B. Increasing temperature.
• C. Lowering the container's temperature.
• D. Increasing air pressure.

Answer: (B)

Raising the temperature gives the liquid’s molecules more energy to move, so more of them have enough energy to break away from the surface and become vapor. With more molecules escaping each second, the evaporation rate increases when the liquid is hotter. The other changes wouldn’t speed things up: higher humidity means the air already holds more water vapor, reducing the difference that drives evaporation; cooling the liquid lowers molecular energy, slowing evaporation; and higher air pressure pushes down on the surface and on the vapor, making it harder for molecules to escape.

Raising the temperature gives the liquid’s molecules more energy to move, so more of them have enough energy to break away from the surface and become vapor. With more molecules escaping each second, the evaporation rate increases when the liquid is hotter. The other changes wouldn’t speed things up: higher humidity means the air already holds more water vapor, reducing the difference that drives evaporation; cooling the liquid lowers molecular energy, slowing evaporation; and higher air pressure pushes down on the surface and on the vapor, making it harder for molecules to escape.