Evaporation is the transformation of a liquid to a gas without being heated. A damp cloth will dry out if given enough time because the water evaporates. Gasoline spilled on the ground disappears as it evaporates into the air, and you can smell the gasoline vapors.


Petri Dishes This lab tests the effect of surface area on the evaporation of various liquids. The liquid is poured into a Petri dish. Placing this filled dish on a triple-beam balance allows changes in mass to be measured.