Vapour

Vapour is the gaseous phase of a substance that is normally liquid or solid at room temperature. It is formed when a substance is heated or its pressure is reduced. Vapours are different from aerosols, which are collections of tiny particles of liquid, solid, or both, suspended in a gas.

Formation of Vapour

Vapour is formed when a substance is heated to its boiling point, or when its pressure is reduced so that it changes from its liquid or solid phase into its gaseous phase. This process is known as evaporation when it occurs at the surface of a liquid, and sublimation when it occurs at the surface of a solid.

Properties of Vapour

Vapours have different properties depending on the substance they are formed from. They can be colourless and odourless, like the vapour from water, or they can have a strong colour and smell, like the vapour from ammonia. Vapours can also be harmful or harmless to human health, depending on the substance.

Uses of Vapour

Vapours are used in a variety of applications. For example, the vapour from water is used in steam power plants to generate electricity. The vapour from petroleum is used in internal combustion engines to power vehicles. The vapour from alcohol is used in distillation processes to produce spirits.

See Also

• Gas
• Liquid
• Solid
• Phase transition
• Vapour pressure

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