Evaporation: meaning, definitions and examples

Evaporation is often used when talking about the process of a liquid turning into a vapor, typically under normal conditions, such as water drying up from a surface.

• The evaporation of water from the lake increases during the summer.
• You can observe evaporation when you leave a glass of water out and it slowly disappears.

Vaporization is usually used in scientific contexts to describe the phase transition from liquid to vapor, typically including both boiling and evaporation processes.

• The lab experiment focused on the vaporization of various liquids under different pressures.
• Vaporization occurs when you heat water to its boiling point.

Dehydration refers to the process of removing water, especially in biological, food, or medical contexts. It can sometimes have a negative connotation when referring to living organisms not having enough water.

• The dehydration of fruits helps in preserving them for longer periods.
• After running a marathon, the athlete suffered from dehydration.

Typically used to describe the process where a liquid turns into a gas at temperatures below its boiling point. Commonly mentioned in relation to natural processes or everyday phenomena.

• Over time, the water in the lake decreases due to evaporation.
• You can see evaporation happening when you leave a glass of water out in the sun.

A general term for the phase transition from liquid to gas. Can be used interchangeably with 'evaporation' but is more technical and often associated with both boiling and evaporation processes.

• The vaporization of water occurs when it reaches its boiling point.
• Industries use high energy processes for the vaporization of various chemicals.

Describes the transition of a substance directly from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid state. Mostly used in scientific contexts.

• Dry ice undergoes sublimation at room temperature.
• In certain climates, snow can disappear through sublimation rather than melting.

This word is used to describe the process where a liquid turns into a gas at a temperature below its boiling point. Commonly used in everyday language, science classes, and casual conversations.

• The water in the puddle disappeared due to evaporation
• Evaporation is an essential part of the water cycle

Usually used in scientific contexts, it refers to the transformation of a liquid into vapor, including both evaporation and boiling. It can be employed in technical discussions or academic settings.

• Vaporization of the liquid nitrogen created a thick fog
• The heat caused the rapid vaporization of water

This term is often used in scientific, technical, or specific fields to describe the process of extreme drying where almost all moisture is removed from a substance.

• Desiccation is crucial for preserving biological samples
• The process of desiccation preserved the ancient manuscript