Condensation Examples

Condensation is a physical change in the state of matter of a substance. This change of state involves matter changing from a gas form to a liquid form because energy in the molecules involved was released. In other words, the substance is in the gas form because the molecules have a high amount of moving energy and when they lose energy, they slow down and form a liquid.

1. Having a cold soda on a hot day, the can "sweats." Water molecules in the air as a vapor hit the colder surface of the can and turn into liquid water.

2. Dew forms in the morning on leaves and grass because the warmer air deposits water molecules on the cool leaves.

3. The mirror in the bathroom during a shower becomes foggy because warmer water vapor in the air hits the cooler surface of the mirror.

4. Clouds form by condensation, warmer air comes into contact with cooler dust particles and the vapor deposits into a liquid on those particles forming clouds.

5. When you get in your car in the morning and are breathing warmer air, the warm air comes into contact with the cooler windshield and forms a foggy window.