Gaseous state of water - properties, examples

Water is the most amazing substance on Earth. It is to her that we owe our life, since it participates in all life processes. Water has the most unusual properties, and not all of them scientists have been able to explain. For example, it turned out that she has memory and can react to different words. And the most famous property of water is that it is the only substance that can be in all three aggregate states. Liquid is, in fact, water, solid is ice. The gaseous state of water we can observe constantly in the form of steam, fog or clouds. An ordinary person does not think that it is all water, he used to call this word only liquid. Many do not even know what the gaseous state of water is called. But it is this feature that provides life on Earth.

Value of water

This amazing moisture occupies about 70% of the Earth's surface. In addition, it can be found at great depths - in the thickness of the earth's crust and high in the atmosphere. The entire mass of water in the form of liquid, ice and steam is called the hydrosphere. It is vital for all life forms on Earth. It is under the influence of water that climate and weather are formed all over the world. And the existence of life depends on its ability to move from one aggregate state to another. This feature is provided by the water cycle in nature. Of particular importance is water in the gaseous state. This property helps to transfer large masses of moisture over huge distances. Scientists have calculated that the Sun evaporates a billion tons of water per minute from the surface of the Earth, which is transferred to another place in the form of clouds , and then it is rained.

Gaseous state of water

A feature of water is that its molecules are able to change the nature of the bond with each other when the temperature fluctuates. Its basic properties do not change. If you heat water, its molecules begin to move faster. Those that are in contact with the air, break their ties and mix with its molecules. Water in the gaseous state retains all its qualities, but also acquires the properties of gas. Its particles are at a great distance from each other and move intensively. Most often this condition is called water vapor. It is a colorless transparent gas, which under certain conditions again turns into water. It is ubiquitous on Earth, but most often it is not visible. Examples of water in the gaseous state are clouds, fog or water vapor, formed when the liquid boils. In addition, it is everywhere in the air. Scientists have noticed that when it is moistened, it becomes easier to breathe.

What kind of steam?

Most often, water changes to a gaseous state when the temperature changes. The usual steam, which is familiar to everyone, is formed by boiling. It is this whitish hot cloud that we call water vapor. When the liquid reaches the boiling point when heated , and at normal pressure it occurs at 100 ° C, its molecules begin to evaporate intensely. Getting to colder objects, they condense in the form of droplets of water. If a large amount of liquid is heated, saturated steam forms in the air. This is a state where gas and water coexist, because the rate of evaporation and condensation is the same. In the case when there is a lot of water vapor in the air, it is said about its high humidity. With a decrease in temperature, this air intensively condenses moisture in the form of droplets of dew or fog. But for the formation of fog, there are few special conditions for temperature and humidity. It is necessary that in the air there is a certain amount of dust, around which moisture condenses. Therefore, in cities, fogs are formed more often due to dust.

The transition of water from one state to another

The process of formation of steam is called vaporization. Every woman watches it while cooking. But there is also a reverse process, when the gas turns back into water, settling on objects in the form of small droplets. This is called condensation. How does the evaporation occur most often? In natural conditions this process is called evaporation. Water evaporates constantly under the influence of solar heat or wind. Artificially, the formation of steam can be caused by boiling water.

Evaporation

This is the process when a gaseous state of water is obtained. It can be natural or accelerated with the help of various devices. The water evaporates constantly. This is a property people have long used to dry clothes, dishes, firewood or grain. Any wet object gradually dries up due to the evaporation of moisture from its surface. Molecules of water in their movement one after another break away and mix with molecules of air. Through observations, people understood how to accelerate this process. To do this, even various devices and devices have been created.

How to accelerate the evaporation?

1. People have noticed that this process is faster at high temperature. For example, in summer the wet road dries up instantly, which can not be said about the autumn. Therefore, people dry objects in warmer places, and recently special dryers with heating have been created. And in frosty weather, evaporation also occurs, but very slowly. This property is used to dry valuable
Ancient books and manuscripts, placing them in special freezers.

2. Evaporation occurs faster if the area of contact with air is large, for example, the water disappears faster from the dish than from the can. This property is used when drying vegetables and fruits, cutting them into thin slices.

3. More people noticed that objects dry out faster under the influence of wind. This is because the water flow carries away the water molecules, and they do not have the opportunity to condense again on this object. This feature was used to create a hair dryer and air hand dryers.

Water properties in gaseous state

Water vapor is invisible in most cases. But at a high temperature, when a lot of water evaporates at once, it can be seen as a white cloud. The same thing happens in cold air, when the water molecules condense in the form of the smallest droplets, which we notice.

Water in a gaseous state can dissolve in the air. Then they say that its humidity has increased. There is the maximum possible concentration of water vapor, which is called the "dew point". Above this limit, it condenses in the form of fog, clouds, or droplets of dew.

Molecules of water in the gaseous state move very quickly, taking up a large volume. This is especially noticeable at high temperatures. Therefore, you can observe how the lid jumps at the kettle. The same property leads to the fact that when burning wood, crackling is heard. This evaporating water breaks the fibers of the wood.

Water vapor has elasticity. It is able to contract and expand as the temperature changes.

Application of the properties of water vapor

All these properties have long been studied by people and are used for domestic and industrial needs.

• For the first time, the gaseous state of water was used in a steam engine. For many years this was the only way to set up traffic and cars in industry. Steam turbines are used now, and in vehicles the gasoline engine has long ago replaced the steam engine. And now the locomotive can be seen only in museums.
• Everywhere and for a long time steam is used in cooking. Preparing meat or fish for a couple makes them gentle and useful for everyone.
• Hot steam is also used to heat houses and processes in the industry. Steam heating is very effective and quickly gained popularity among the population.
• The gaseous state of water is now used in special fire extinguishers, which are used to extinguish oil products and other combustible liquids. Heated steam blocks the access of air to the source of ignition, stopping burning.
• In recent years, the gaseous state of water was used to care for clothes. Special steamers will not only smoothen delicate things, but also bring out some stains.
• Very effective use of water vapor for sterilization of objects and medical instruments.

When is water vapor harmful?

There are places on the Earth where water in the gaseous state is almost always found. These are the valleys of the geysers and the vicinity of the active volcanoes. It is impossible to be in such an atmosphere. There it is difficult to breathe, and high humidity prevents evaporation of moisture from the skin, which can lead to overheating. It can also be badly burned by the steam that forms when boiling water. And fogs can reduce visibility, leading to accidents. But in all other cases, the property of water to go into the gaseous state is used by man for his own good.