Where Does the Water Go?
Have you ever noticed puddles disappearing after rain, or water drying up on a washed floor? Does the water seep into the ground, or does it go somewhere else?
Experiment: Steel Plate Test
If you place a tablespoon of water on a steel plate, it will eventually disappear. Since water cannot seep through steel, it must have changed its form.
Tip
Definition: The process of conversion of water into its vapour state is called Evaporation.
This water turns into water vapour (a gas), which mixes with the air. Water vapour is usually invisible.
Everyday Examples
- Boiling Water/Cooking: When water is sprinkled on a hot pan, it turns into steam immediately. Steam is visible because some of the vapour turns back into tiny liquid droplets.
- Drying Clothes: Wet clothes dry because the water in the fabric evaporates into the air.
- Sweating: Sweat dries off our skin due to evaporation.
- Hand Sanitiser: It disappears quickly when rubbed on hands due to rapid evaporation.
Conclusion
Water does not just vanish; it changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state. This process happens continuously, even at room temperature.