What is the Difference Between Sublimation and Condensation?

The main difference between sublimation and condensation is the process through which a substance changes its state.

Sublimation occurs when a substance transforms directly from its solid state to its gaseous state, without going through the liquid phase. Examples of substances that undergo sublimation include dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) and naphthalene (an organic compound used in mothballs). Dry ice, for instance, changes from its solid state to the gaseous state without melting, forming a visible fog when exposed to air and atmospheric temperature.

Condensation, on the other hand, is the process by which a gas or vapor loses energy or gains pressure, causing it to change from its gaseous state to its liquid state. Examples of condensation include:

• Fog in the mirror: When the temperature gets cooler and less than the dew point, water vapor in the air condenses into fog on the mirror.
• Water droplets on the bottle: When a cold bottle is taken from the refrigerator, water vapor in the air condenses into water droplets on the bottle.
• Clouds in the sky: These are formed when water vapor in the atmosphere cools and condenses into liquid water droplets, which then combine to form clouds.

In summary:

• Sublimation: Direct transition from solid to gaseous state without passing through the liquid phase.
• Condensation: Transition from gaseous state to liquid state, often involving water vapor and cooling temperatures.

Comparative Table: Sublimation vs Condensation

The difference between sublimation and condensation can be summarized in the following table:

Sublimation is a process where a substance transitions directly from the solid state to the gaseous state without going through the liquid state, while condensation is the process where a substance changes from its gaseous state to a liquid state.