How are vaporization and boiling similar?

Answer 1

Vaporization and boiling both involve atoms or molecules of a liquid substance gaining enough energy to leave liquid and make what is called a phase transition into a gas. An example might be cool water in a pot on a stove. As the pot is heated, water molecules begin escaping into the air above the liquid. These molecules are vaporizing to become water vapor. As the pot comes to a boil, the rate of vaporization becomes much more rapid. If you guessed that boiling is simply rapid vaporization, you would be correct.

Remember that both terms speak to that phase transitionbetween liquid and vapor that atoms or molecules undergo, and vaporization takes energy to occur. Also reflect on what wetting your finger with water and blowing on it feels like. The cooling effect is the result of water molecules taking energy from other molecules around them and making that phase transition from liquid to vapor.