How could water vapour contained in the air turn into liquid water? The answer to this question is ‘Condensation’. In CBSE Class 9 Chemistry, condensation appears in organic chemistry. It is nothing but a process in which a chemical reaction occurs while combining two or more molecules to form a single molecule. It usually happens within the loss of a small molecule, namely water. Therefore, it can be termed a dehydration synthesis if the water is lost.
In this article, let us discover some of the facts and information regarding the condensation process in general while understanding the other related concepts.
What is condensation?
In Class 9 Chemistry, condensation is explained by how vapours of water are converted into liquid. The main reason for this conversation is that there is a change in the substance’s temperature and pressure.
In detail, condensation is described as a chemical process that we tend to experience daily. For example, on a warm day, we can see that the mirror is fully covered with fog due to the temperature rise. Likewise, it is the same with taking a hot shower. Upon touching the mirror, we can notice that there will be small water beds on the mirror. This fog is because of condensation. Let us discuss it more in the upcoming passages.
Condensation – Explanation
It is a fact that the condensation point and boiling point are the same. The occurrence of condensation will be at 100 ℃. While doing so, water will evaporate right after the temperature rises from the boiling point. In this case, it can be beyond 100 ℃. The water will boil and evaporate into the air, then form the water vapour.
Furthermore, if we reverse the process, i.e. when the water is cooled down to 10 ℃, the vapour will condense, turning back into its original liquid form. The condensation process occurs between the temperatures 0 ℃ and 100 ℃ or 32 ℉ and 212 ℉.
One can notice it very well when there is a higher temperature difference between the atmosphere and the object. For instance, in ice candies, there will be a formation of droplets of water molecules when the temperature is hot.
Condensation in the water cycle
The CBSE Chemistry students should know how condensation works in a water cycle. One of the key parts of the water cycle is condensation. Condensation is capable of showing how water is being cycled continuously throughout the earth’s liquid, solid, and gaseous forms.
During the condensation process, water vapour will change into actual water in the form of fog, using moisture. Moreover, when there is a positive change in the altitude of the earth, there will be a decrease in the pressure and temperature of the earth, converting the vapours of water into liquid form.
In addition, a large amount of concentration of these water droplets will form fog and cumulus clouds. After that, one can see that the water droplets get condensed, followed by falling on the earth’s surface as precipitation. This precipitation is commonly referred to as rain.
Rain first enters the earth’s waterways, followed by entering the soil. After it gets into the soil, it will be absorbed by the plants, which will help them grow using photosynthesis. It is a process in which the plants absorb water, sunlight and carbon dioxide and emit oxygen.
Moreover, the water entering the soil will freeze to form a solid form. This solid form is commonly called ice. After doing so, it is capable of melting back into the water. This water can be utilised in all forms.
Given below are the various forms of condensation:
- Rain
- Snow
- Icicles
- etc.
After that, there is another step that takes place. This step is named evapotranspiration. It is nothing but the conversion of water from liquid to gas. This process can be seen as the combination of evaporation from earth’s rivers, lakes, oceans, and transpiration from plants and trees. Evapotranspiration plays a crucial part in the earth’s surface because it can sustain life and help survive all living things.
Understanding chemical bonding of condensation
In chemical bonding, a condensation reaction occurs when there is a combination of two or more molecules to form a larger molecule. While doing so, there will be a simultaneous removal of a minute molecule, namely methanol or water. It happens in a lot of day-to-day reactions. It is also usually reserved for reactions where new carbon-carbon bonds are formed.
Organic Chemistry and Condensation
In Class 9, two molecules combine to form a single one in organic chemistry. Here, water is usually eliminated during the condensation reaction because it is a small molecule. Moreover, amino acids are considered as the biological molecules that consist of a functional group of amine on the molecule’s one end. Meanwhile, there is a carboxylic acid functional group on the other end of the molecule.
In a normal condensation reaction, two amino acids will be combined. Due to that, there will be a formation of a covalent bond. It appears between the first amino acid’s amine nitrogen and the second amino acid’s carboxyl carbon.
Moreover, due to this combination, the water molecule will be formed, which is removed in the condensation process.
Esterification
The CBSE students should be aware of another important subdivision under the process of condensation, which is esterification. An esterification reaction can be considered a condensation reaction, from which the ester is formed from the alcohol’s product and a carboxylic acid.
Esterification is regarded as the subcategory of condensation reactions due to the production of a water molecule in the reaction. Furthermore, strong acids such as sulphuric acid are utilised as a catalyst in this reaction.
A heating process will occur between the butanoic acid and carboxylic acid, with the addition of methanol and a few drops of sulphuric acid in it. It will ultimately result in producing the ester methyl butanoate. Methyl butanoate is capable of producing the aroma in pineapples and many fruits alike.
Structure of Esterification reaction
Apart from all that, the CBSE Chemistry students should understand how the esterification reaction is structured. This reaction is considered a reversible one. The reaction occurs while heating an ester in the presence of a strong base, namely sodium hydroxide. While doing so, there will be a breakdown of ester. Its products will be a type of alcohol and a conjugate base as a carboxylic acid salt. The reaction is provided below:
CH3 COOCH2 CH3 ethyl ethanoate + NaOH → CH3 COO – Na + sodium acetate + CH3 CH2 OH Ethanol
In the specified reaction, sodium hydroxide does not act as a catalyst. It is because it has been consumed in the reaction.
Saponification
In Chemistry, saponification means the alkaline hydrolysis reaction of an ester. This term usually describes the long-chain esters’ hydrolysis, which is named fatty acid esters. It is capable of producing molecules of soap. Moreover, these are also described as the salts of the fatty acids.
In that, one of the soap molecules is sodium stearate. It is usually formed from the hydrolysis of ethyl stearate.
C17 H35 COOC2 H5 ethyl stearate + NaOH → C17 H35 COO- Na + sodium stearate soap + C2 H5 OH
Conclusion
In a nutshell, condensation is determined as the opposite process of evaporation. In this science-based article, the students have obtained the basic ideas of condensation and how it is being formed. There is a detailed explanation of what condensation is given. The Class 9 Chemistry students were able to understand the occurrence of condensation in the water cycle.
Moreover, an in-depth study of condensation in chemical bonding is also provided. A new topic called condensation in organic chemistry is also explained thoroughly. Concerning that, students obtained knowledge on esterification and the structure of esterification reactions. Ultimately, the CBSE Class 9 students can learn the process of saponification.
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