Enhancing the Understanding of Dynamic Equilibrium of Liquid Evaporation and Vapor Condensation

The kinetics of liquid evaporation and vapor condensation are modeled using phenomenological rate equations, emphasizing the dynamic equilibrium concept fundamental to understanding vapor pressure. By modeling these kinetic processes, the research provides a quantitative analysis extending beyond the qualitative descriptions typically found in general chemistry textbooks. The derived rate equations accurately reproduce textbook plots and elucidate the temperature dependence of both the evaporation rate of liquid and the condensation rate of vapor. This study proposes a teaching strategy at the general chemistry level, based on the rate-based derivation process, to promote understanding of dynamic equilibrium through a kinetic approach. The implementation showed statistically significant effects in enhancing students’ understanding of dynamic equilibrium. Therefore, this study suggests a method for utilizing a kinetic approach to gain a deeper understanding of dynamic equilibrium.