Boiling Point

The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes from a liquid to a gas. At this temperature, the vapor pressure of the liquid equals the pressure surrounding the liquid, causing the liquid to rapidly vaporize and form bubbles. The boiling point is a characteristic property of a substance and can be used to help identify and classify different materials.

Factors Affecting Boiling Point

The boiling point of a substance is affected by several factors:

1. Intermolecular forces: Substances with stronger intermolecular forces require more energy to overcome these forces and reach the boiling point. This results in a higher boiling point.
2. Pressure: An increase in pressure raises the boiling point of a substance, while a decrease in pressure lowers it. This is why water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes.
3. Purity: Impurities in a substance can affect its boiling point. A pure substance will have a sharp, well-defined boiling point, while impure substances may exhibit a boiling point range.

Examples of Boiling Points

Here are the boiling points of some common substances at standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm or 101.3 kPa):

Study Guide

When studying boiling point, consider the following questions:

1. What is the definition of boiling point?
2. How do intermolecular forces affect boiling point?
3. Explain the relationship between pressure and boiling point.
4. How does purity impact the boiling point of a substance?
5. Provide examples of substances with different boiling points.

Be sure to review the factors affecting boiling point and practice identifying the boiling points of various substances. Understanding this concept will help you grasp the physical properties of different materials and their behavior under specific conditions.

[Boiling Point] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• TemperatureMathematics • Third Grade