Melting, boiling and evaporation
2.2.3What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe melting, solidification, boiling and condensation in terms of energy transfer without a change in temperature
- Know the melting and boiling temperatures for water at standard atmospheric pressure
- Describe the differences between boiling and evaporation
- Describe evaporation in terms of the escape of more energetic particles from the surface of a liquid
- Describe how temperature, surface area and air movement over a surface affect evaporation
- Explain how evaporation causes cooling
- Describe latent heat as the energy required to change the state of a substance and explain it in terms of particle behaviour and the forces between particles
Read the notes first
Chapter 2: Melting, boiling and evaporation
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Every question on Melting, boiling and evaporation, untimed, marked as you go.
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44 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Aboiling
Bcondensation
Cevaporation
Dmelting
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Ahigh energy before evaporation
Bhigh energy after evaporation
Clow energy before evaporation
Dlow energy after evaporation
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3May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
AIts temperature changes from a negative to a positive value.
BIts temperature is constant.
CThe forces between its particles become stronger.
DThe kinetic energy of its particles increases.
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5May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q16Also set in Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AThe less energetic molecules escape and the average kinetic energy decreases.
BThe less energetic molecules escape and the average kinetic energy increases.
CThe more energetic molecules escape and the average kinetic energy decreases.
DThe more energetic molecules escape and the average kinetic energy increases.
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6May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
AT = 18 °C, A = 45 cm², v = 0.1 m/s
BT = 24 °C, A = 50 cm², v = 1.9 m/s
CT = 38 °C, A = 70 cm², v = 5.0 m/s
DT = 38 °C, A = 45 cm², v = 4.7 m/s
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7Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AW and X
BW and Y
CX and Z
DY and Z
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8Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Ablowing air across the top of the beaker
Bheating the liquid
Cputting a lid on the beaker
Dtransferring the liquid to a beaker with a larger diameter
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9May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
ABoiling only occurs at the surface of a liquid.
BEvaporation only occurs when the temperature of the liquid is high enough.
CEvaporation does not change the temperature of a liquid.
DWhen a boiling liquid is heated its temperature remains constant.
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10May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Acondensation
Bconduction
Cconvection
Devaporation
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11Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q15Show mark scheme →
Aboiling | solid becomes hotter | melting
Bliquid becomes hotter | boiling | gas becomes hotter
Csolid becomes hotter | melting | liquid becomes hotter
Dmelting | liquid becomes hotter | boiling
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12Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
AWrap the bottle in aluminium foil and place it in a shady place.
BWrap the bottle in dry, white paper and put it in a sunny place.
CWrap the bottle in foam and put it in a breeze.
DWrap the bottle in wet paper and put it in a breeze.
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13Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Akinetic energy of liquid particles in X: decreases; kinetic energy of liquid particles in Y: increases
Bkinetic energy of liquid particles in X: decreases; kinetic energy of liquid particles in Y: does not change
Ckinetic energy of liquid particles in X: stays the same; kinetic energy of liquid particles in Y: increases
Dkinetic energy of liquid particles in X: stays the same; kinetic energy of liquid particles in Y: does not change
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14May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Aenergy, state
Bforce, state
Cenergy, temperature
Dforce, temperature
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15Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
AA gas is being heated.
BA liquid is at its boiling point.
CA liquid is evaporating.
DA solid is at its melting point.
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16Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Ahigh temperature, draught and large surface area of liquid
Bhigh temperature, no draught and large surface area of liquid
Clow temperature, draught and small surface area of liquid
Dlow temperature, no draught and small surface area of liquid
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17May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
AThe molecules slow down and absorb energy from the surroundings.
BThe molecules slow down and emit energy to the surroundings.
CThe molecules stay at the same speed and absorb energy from the surroundings.
DThe molecules stay at the same speed and emit energy to the surroundings.
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18May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Abubbles form throughout the liquid; only occurs at one temperature
Bbubbles form throughout the liquid; produces cooling
Coccurs at any temperature; only occurs at one temperature
Doccurs at any temperature; produces cooling
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19May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Adecreasing the speed of the air from the hairdryer
Bdecreasing the mass of the water in the beaker
Cincreasing the surface area of the water by using a wider beaker
Dincreasing the volume of the water in the beaker
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20Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Ablowing air across the top of the beaker
Bheating the liquid
Cputting a lid on the beaker
Dtransferring the liquid to a beaker with a larger diameter
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21Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q19Also set in Oct / Nov 2021 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A180 J / g
B240 J / g
C480 J / g
D600 J / g
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22Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Atemperature of water / °C: 20, surface area of water / cm²: 50
Btemperature of water / °C: 20, surface area of water / cm²: 100
Ctemperature of water / °C: 25, surface area of water / cm²: 50
Dtemperature of water / °C: 25, surface area of water / cm²: 100
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23May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AAt the boiling point, water vapour molecules have the same kinetic energy as liquid water molecules.
BEvaporation occurs only at the boiling point.
CWater molecules become heavier when water freezes.
DWater molecules lose all of their kinetic energy when water freezes.
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24Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
ABoth processes are accompanied by a decrease in volume.
BBoth processes involve energy transfer and a temperature change.
CBoth processes involve the absorption of latent heat.
DBoth processes result in the increase of intermolecular forces.
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25May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 2 only
C1 and 3 only
D2 and 3 only
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26May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q25Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A0.58 g
B1.7 g
C12 g
D35 g
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27Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Achanging the temperature of the water
Busing a beaker made of thicker glass
Cusing a beaker with a larger cross-sectional area
Dusing a fan to blow air over the beaker
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28Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A1 and 4
B2 and 4
C1 and 3
D2 and 3
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29Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Athe heat absorbed or emitted by unit mass during a change of a state without a temperature change
Bthe heat absorbed or emitted by unit mass during unit temperature change
Cthe heat absorbed or emitted during a change of a state without a temperature change
Dthe heat absorbed or emitted during unit temperature change
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30May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Athe thermal energy absorbed or emitted by unit mass during a change of state without a temperature change
Bthe thermal energy absorbed or emitted by unit mass during unit temperature change
Cthe thermal energy absorbed or emitted during a change of state without a temperature change
Dthe thermal energy absorbed or emitted during unit temperature change
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31Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Acondensation
Bconduction
Cconvection
Devaporation
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32Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A\frac{7.0 \times 320}{0.10 \times 300}
B\frac{22 \times 320}{0.10 \times 300}
C\frac{7.0 \times 320}{0.10}
D\frac{22 \times 320}{0.10}
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33May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Acondensation
Bevaporation
Cmelting
Dradiation
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34Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q12Show mark scheme →
Aa decrease in the surface area
Ba fall in water temperature
Can increase in the depth of the lake
Dwind blowing across the surface
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35Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q14Show mark scheme →
Agives out energy / gives out energy
Bgives out energy / takes in energy
Ctakes in energy / gives out energy
Dtakes in energy / takes in energy
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36Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q13Show mark scheme →
AThe liquid cools because liquid molecules have more potential energy than gas molecules.
BThe liquid cools because faster-moving molecules escape.
CThe liquid warms because liquid molecules have less potential energy than gas molecules.
DThe liquid warms because slower-moving molecules are left behind.
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37Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q14Also set in Oct / Nov 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AThe liquid is at its boiling point.
BThe liquid is turning to solid.
CThe solid has reached room temperature.
DThe solid is turning to liquid.
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38May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A20, 20
B20, 40
C40, 20
D40, 40
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39May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q22Also set in May / June 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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40May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A9.9 × 10³ J
B1.1 × 10⁴ J
C9.9 × 10⁶ J
D1.1 × 10⁷ J
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41Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A1.5 g
B11 g
C90 g
D5400 g
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42Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Aconduction
Bconvection
Cevaporation
Dradiation
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43Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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44Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
A0.58 g
B1.7 g
C12 g
D35 g
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