Answer to Question #137 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for Linnea

Question

Specific heat of vaporization of the ether is much lower than the specific heat of vaporization of water. Why then does a soaked with ether arm feels a stronger cooling than when it is wetted with water?

Answer 1

Moistened with ether hand feels particularly sharp cold. Although ether has a relatively small heat of evaporation, but the boiling point of liquid ether is 35.6 degrees. Therefore, the alcohol and ether vaporize many times faster than the water; actually ether begins to boil on the hand, which is accompanied by a significant selection of heat.