Question

When wet cloths dry, water in it disappears. This is due to

• A. freezing
• B. condensation
• C. melting
• D. evaporation

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

When wet cloths dry, the water in them seems to disappear. This phenomenon is caused by evaporation. Evaporation is the process where water changes from its liquid form to vapor or gas. This occurs when the molecules in the water gain enough energy to break free from the surface and enter the air.

Here's how it happens:

1. Heat Energy Absorption: The water molecules in the wet cloth absorb heat from the surroundings, which increases their kinetic energy.
2. Overcoming Intermolecular Forces: As their kinetic energy increases, these molecules can overcome the intermolecular forces holding them in the liquid state.
3. Changing State: When enough energy is gained, the molecules escape into the air as water vapor.
4. Dispersal: These vapor molecules mix with the air, effectively removing water from the cloth.

This process contrasts with other options such as freezing, condensation, and melting, which describe different phase changes of matter:

• Freezing: Liquid turning into a solid.
• Condensation: Gas turning into a liquid.
• Melting: Solid turning into a liquid.

Thus, the correct explanation for the disappearance of water from drying clothes is evaporation.

Answer 2

Concept: When wet clothes dry, the water in the fabric turns into water vapour and disappears into the air. This process is called evaporation.

Evaporation is the process in which a liquid changes into a gas at temperatures below its boiling point.

Final Answer: Evaporation