Evaporation

When a molecule near the surface absorbs enough energy to overcome the vapor pressure, it will escape and enter the surrounding air as a gas.

For molecules of a liquid to evaporate, they must be located near the surface, they have to be moving in the proper direction, and have sufficient kinetic energy to overcome liquid-phase intermolecular forces.

Three key parts to evaporation are heat, atmospheric pressure (determines the percent humidity), and air movement.

If evaporation takes place in an enclosed area, the escaping molecules accumulate as a vapor above the liquid.

The ability for a molecule of a liquid to evaporate is based largely on the amount of kinetic energy an individual particle may possess.

Even at lower temperatures, individual molecules of a liquid can evaporate if they have more than the minimum amount of kinetic energy required for vaporization.

In the US, the National Weather Service measures, at various outdoor locations nationwide, the actual rate of evaporation from a standardized "pan" open water surface.

Because it typically takes place in a complex environment, where 'evaporation is an extremely rare event', the mechanism for the evaporation of water is not completely understood.

Fuel droplets vaporize as they receive heat by mixing with the hot gases in the combustion chamber.

Internal combustion engines rely upon the vaporization of the fuel in the cylinders to form a fuel/air mixture in order to burn well.