Which term defines the temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure?

Which term defines the temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure?

• A. Boiling Point
• B. Melting Point
• C. Flash Point
• D. Sublimation Point

Answer: (A)

Boiling occurs when the vapor pressure of a liquid exactly matches the surrounding atmospheric pressure. As you heat a liquid, its vapor pressure increases. When it reaches the external pressure, bubbles form throughout the liquid and it begins to boil, allowing vapor to escape. This is different from melting, which is solid turning into liquid at a given pressure; the flash point, which is the lowest temperature at which vapors can ignite in the presence of an ignition source; and sublimation point, which is a solid turning directly into gas under certain conditions. At standard atmospheric pressure, the temperature where boiling begins is defined as the boiling point.

Boiling occurs when the vapor pressure of a liquid exactly matches the surrounding atmospheric pressure. As you heat a liquid, its vapor pressure increases. When it reaches the external pressure, bubbles form throughout the liquid and it begins to boil, allowing vapor to escape.

This is different from melting, which is solid turning into liquid at a given pressure; the flash point, which is the lowest temperature at which vapors can ignite in the presence of an ignition source; and sublimation point, which is a solid turning directly into gas under certain conditions. At standard atmospheric pressure, the temperature where boiling begins is defined as the boiling point.