Which of the following statements does not correctly characterize the rate of evaporation of a liquid?
I. Increases with increasing temperature because molecules have higher kinetic energies.
II. Increases with increasing surface area of the liquid because more molecules are located at the surface.
III. Increases with stronger intermolecular forces because molecules in the liquid repel each other more.
A)I only
B)II only
C)III only
D)I and II only
E)II and III only

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Statement III does not correctly characterize the rate of evaporation of a liquid. Stronger intermolecular forces would actually decrease the rate of evaporation as the molecules are more tightly held together in the liquid phase. Statement I is correct as higher temperatures correspond to higher kinetic energies of the molecules, leading to an increased rate of evaporation. Statement II is also correct as a larger surface area would provide more opportunity for the molecules at the surface to escape into the gas phase.

Which of the Following Statements Does Not Correctly Characterize the Rate