Heat of Vaporization

The heat of vaporization is defined as the amount of heat a liquid must absorb to be converted a gas. It takes 580 calories of energy to covert 1 gram of water at room temperature into a vapor. Again this is related to hydrogen bonds. It takes a lot of heat to break hydrogen bonds so a molecule of water can break free. So what does this have to do with you? A lot!

When you sweat, the evaporation of sweat from your body keeps you from over heating. Sweating cools you down. Evaporation of water keeps leaves from overheating and killing a plant. Evaporation of water from a tropical body of water absorbs heat and then releases it later when it rains.

• Why does a wilted plant die so easily in the sun?
• If a dog does not sweat, how does it use water to maintain body temperature?
• Why are you more uncomfortable on a humid day?
• Why are you more comfortable in an air conditioned room?
• Why are the spiciest foods from regions of the world with the most humid climates?

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