Which of the following will affect the saturation vapour pressure of a liquid?
Answer Details
The saturation vapour pressure of a liquid is affected by the temperature of the liquid. As the temperature increases, the saturation vapour pressure of the liquid also increases. This is because as the temperature increases, the molecules in the liquid gain more kinetic energy, and some of them escape into the air as vapour.
Humidity of air can also affect the saturation vapour pressure of a liquid. If the air is already saturated with water vapour, then the saturation vapour pressure of the liquid will be lower, as there is less room for more water vapour to enter the air.
The volume of vapour and the mass of the liquid do not directly affect the saturation vapour pressure of a liquid. However, they can affect the conditions under which the liquid exists, and thus indirectly affect the saturation vapour pressure. The volume of the liquid can affect the surface area of the liquid that is exposed to the air, which can in turn affect the rate at which the liquid evaporates. The volume of vapour can affect the pressure of the surrounding air, which can affect the rate of evaporation of the liquid.
In summary, the temperature of the liquid and the humidity of the air are the primary factors that affect the saturation vapour pressure of a liquid.