What is the Difference Between Evaporation and Condensation?

Evaporation and condensation are two processes through which matter changes from one state to another. They involve the conversion of water between its liquid, gas, and solid states. Here are the key differences between evaporation and condensation:

Definition: Evaporation is the process where water changes into a vapor, while condensation is the opposite process, where water vapor is converted to tiny droplets of water.
Temperature and Pressure: Evaporation occurs before a liquid reaches its boiling point, while condensation is a phase change regardless of the temperature.
Molecular Movement: In evaporation, the forces of attraction between molecules are low when a liquid is heated or when pressure is reduced, causing the molecules to move or vibrate with a strong force, eventually moving out into the air. In condensation, the forces of attraction between molecules increase, bringing them closer to each other and causing them to form droplets of water.
Energy Transfer: In the process of evaporation, heat energy is absorbed, while in the process of condensation, energy is released.

Examples of evaporation include the slow shrinking of a puddle when heated by the sun or the cooling of remaining liquid water as molecules fly out into the air. Examples of condensation include water droplets forming on the outside of a cold glass of water or the formation of dew on grass on a chilly morning.