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BIO NMDCAT Biological Importance of Water
nmdcat.online June 27, 2026

The dissociation of liquid water into its gaseous phase during evaporation is fundamentally an endothermic process because energy is required to

A. Break the covalent O-H bonds within the water molecule
B. Overcome the intermolecular hydrogen bonds holding water molecules in the liquid phase
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C. Increase the dielectric constant of the remaining liquid water
D. Ionize the liquid water into H₃O⁺ and OH⁻ prior to evaporation

📝 Explanation

Evaporation is a phase transition, not a chemical reaction. The molecules are the same; they are just farther apart. The energy required (latent heat) is used exclusively to overcome the attractive forces—primarily hydrogen bonds—between the water molecules.

📖 Additional Information

  • Break the covalent O-H bonds within the water molecule
  • Overcome the intermolecular hydrogen bonds holding water molecules in the liquid phase
  • Increase the dielectric constant of the remaining liquid water
  • Ionize the liquid water into H₃O⁺ and OH⁻ prior to evaporation

Evaporation is a phase transition, not a chemical reaction. The molecules are the same; they are just farther apart. The energy required (latent heat) is used exclusively to overcome the attractive forces—primarily hydrogen bonds—between the water molecules.

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