Question

Which statement best describes the energy changes associated with evaporation and boiling?

Atoms gain energy during evaporation and boiling.
Atoms lose energy during evaporation and boiling.
Atoms gain energy during evaporation but lose energy during boiling.
Atoms lose energy during evaporation but gain energy during boiling.

Answer 1

Atoms gain energy during evaporation and boiling.

Both evaporation and boiling are endothermic vaporization processes: molecules absorb energy (latent heat of vaporization) to overcome intermolecular attractions and enter the gas phase.