A volatile liquid is one that _ .
a) is highly cohesive
b) is highly hydrogen-bonded
c) readily evaporates
d) is highly flammable
e) is highly viscous
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is:
c) readily evaporates
Explanation:
A volatile liquid is one that easily transitions from a liquid state to a gas or vapor state at relatively low temperatures. This means it has a high vapor pressure and readily evaporates when exposed to the air. Volatility is a property that describes how easily a substance can vaporize, and volatile liquids are typically those with weak intermolecular forces that allow them to break free into the gas phase more easily.
To break down the other options:
- a) is highly cohesive: Cohesion refers to the attraction between molecules of the same substance. While cohesive forces can influence a liquid’s behavior, a liquid being “highly cohesive” does not directly indicate whether it will be volatile or not. In fact, liquids with high cohesive forces, like water, tend to evaporate more slowly compared to liquids with weaker cohesive forces.
- b) is highly hydrogen-bonded: Hydrogen bonding is a strong type of intermolecular force, which increases the resistance to evaporation. Liquids that exhibit strong hydrogen bonds, like water, are not typically volatile, as their molecules are held together more tightly and require more energy to escape into the gas phase. Therefore, being “highly hydrogen-bonded” actually makes a liquid less volatile.
- d) is highly flammable: While many volatile liquids are flammable, volatility and flammability are not the same thing. Flammability refers to the ability of a substance to ignite and burn in the presence of heat, whereas volatility refers to how easily a substance evaporates. A substance can be volatile but not necessarily flammable.
- e) is highly viscous: Viscosity refers to a liquid’s resistance to flow. Highly viscous liquids, such as honey or molasses, tend to be less volatile because their molecules are more tightly packed, making it harder for them to evaporate.
Thus, the defining characteristic of a volatile liquid is its tendency to readily evaporate, which is option c.