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Kerosene will evaporate before water, given equal volumes and similar environmental conditions. The reason: water has considerable surface tension, brought about by hydrogen bonding between its very polar molecules. Kerosene is a hydrocarbon, and is non-polar, which means its molecules do not have a positive or a negative end. Water's surface tension resists evaporation. Kerosene's lack of surface tension (because of its non-polarity) makes it evaporate more quickly.

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12y ago

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