Answer to Question #107681 in General Chemistry for Kevin

Question

How is Vapor Pressure of a liquid related to the intermolecular forces within that liquid?
How does vapor pressure change with Temperature? When does a liquid boil?

Answer 1

Vapor pressure is a property of a liquid based on the strength of its inter-molecular forces. A liquid with weak inter-molecular forces evaporates more easily and has a high vapor pressure. A liquid with stronger inter-molecular forces does not evaporate easily and thus has a lower vapor pressure.As the temperature of a liquid or solid increases its vapor pressure also increases. Conversely, vapor pressure decreases as the temperature decreases.The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to the pressure of the gas above it