As water becomes warmer, boils and then becomes water vapor (steam), what happens to its kinetic and potential energies?

Question

The kinetic and potential energies of the particles will stay the same
the particles gain both potential and kinetic energy
the particles will gain potential energy as it heats up, but the kinetic energy of the particles will stay the same.
the particles gain kinetic energy as it heats up, but the potential energy of the particles will stay the same

Answer 1

As water is heated and transitions from liquid to water vapor (steam), the correct statement regarding the kinetic and potential energies of the particles is:

The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.

Here's the reasoning:

1. Kinetic Energy: As the temperature of water increases, the kinetic energy of the particles increases. This is because temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles. Therefore, as water heats up, the particles move faster, resulting in an increase in kinetic energy.

2. Potential Energy: When water reaches its boiling point and starts to vaporize, additional energy (in the form of heat) is supplied to the system. This energy is used to overcome the intermolecular forces that hold the water molecules together in the liquid state. As the molecules separate and move further apart, they gain potential energy.

Thus, throughout the heating and boiling process, both kinetic and potential energies of the water molecules increase.