When water vapor condenses to form liquid water, what happens in terms of energy?

• A. Energy is converted into mass.
• B. No energy change occurs.
• C. Energy is absorbed from the surroundings.
• D. Energy is released to the surroundings.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process: When water vapor condenses to form liquid water, it undergoes a phase change from gas to liquid.
2. Recall that condensation is an exothermic process, meaning it releases energy because gas molecules lose kinetic energy as they come closer together to form a liquid.
3. Recognize that during condensation, energy is released to the surroundings in the form of heat, which is why steam can feel hot when it condenses on your skin.
4. Contrast this with evaporation, the reverse process, where energy is absorbed from the surroundings to convert liquid water into vapor.
5. Conclude that the correct description of energy change during condensation is that energy is released to the surroundings.