Sublimation vs. Evaporation — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 13, 2024
Sublimation is the transition of a substance from solid to gas without becoming liquid, while evaporation involves a liquid turning into vapor at temperatures below boiling.
Difference Between Sublimation and Evaporation
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sublimation occurs under specific conditions where solid substances change directly into gas without passing through a liquid state. Common examples include dry ice (solid CO2) turning into carbon dioxide gas. On the other hand, evaporation is a process where liquid gradually transforms into gas at temperatures below its boiling point, noticeable in everyday phenomena like drying wet clothes.
In sublimation, the substance bypasses the liquid phase entirely due to environmental or chemical properties, such as low atmospheric pressure or high volatility of the solid. Whereas, in evaporation, molecules in a liquid gain enough energy to overcome atmospheric pressure and enter the gaseous phase, typically influenced by heat, surface area, and air movement.
Sublimation requires specific conditions, often low pressure or low temperature, which are not commonly found in natural environments, making it less frequently observed in daily life compared to evaporation. Meanwhile, evaporation is a ubiquitous process, significantly influenced by ambient temperature and air humidity.
The rate of sublimation is generally slower and more controlled, influenced heavily by the substance’s chemical properties and environmental factors. In contrast, evaporation rates can vary widely and are often much faster, depending on external conditions like temperature, humidity, and air flow.
Sublimation is often utilized in industrial applications, such as freeze-drying foods, where moisture is removed from the frozen product by turning the ice directly into vapor. Evaporation, however, plays a crucial role in processes like cooling (as in sweating or in evaporative coolers) and in the concentration of solutions.
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Comparison Chart
Phase Change
Solid to gas without becoming liquid
Liquid to gas
Typical Conditions
Low pressure or low temperature
Any temperature below boiling
Rate
Generally slower, depends on specific factors
Can vary, often faster, depends on environmental factors
Common Examples
Dry ice, freeze-drying
Drying clothes, sweating
Applications
Industrial freeze-drying, making sublime ink
Cooling, concentrating solutions
Compare with Definitions
Sublimation
The process by which a solid turns directly into gas, skipping the liquid phase.
Sublimation of dry ice is used in fog machines to create dense vapor.
Evaporation
An essential process in various industrial applications.
Evaporation is used to concentrate fruit juices.
Sublimation
A natural phenomenon observed under particular environmental settings.
Frost can sublimate during cold, dry conditions.
Evaporation
A physical change dependent on temperature and humidity.
Higher temperatures accelerate the evaporation rate.
Sublimation
The direct vaporization of a solid under specific conditions.
The sublimation of iodine can be observed as it forms purple vapors.
Evaporation
Evaporation is a type of vaporization that occurs on the surface of a liquid as it changes into the gas phase. The surrounding gas must not be saturated with the evaporating substance.
Sublimation
A phase transition used in industrial processes to preserve materials.
Pharmaceuticals are often preserved using sublimation.
Evaporation
The process of turning from liquid into vapour
Snow cover prevents evaporation of water from the soil
Sublimation
A method used to change the state of substances without liquid intermediaries.
Sublimation is critical in the manufacture of certain synthetic fabrics.
Evaporation
To convert or change into a vapor.
Sublimation
To be transformed directly from the solid to the gaseous state or from the gaseous to the solid state without becoming a liquid.
Evaporation
To draw off in the form of vapor.
Sublimation
(Chemistry) To cause (a solid or gas) to sublimate.
Evaporation
To draw moisture from, as by heating, leaving only the dry solid portion.
Sublimation
(Psychology) In psychoanalytic theory, to divert or modify (an instinctual impulse or drive) into an activity or interest of higher social value.
Evaporation
To deposit (a metal) on a substrate by vacuum sublimation.
Sublimation
(Chemistry) A product of sublimation.
Evaporation
To change into vapor.
Sublimation
(chemistry) The transition of a substance from the solid phase directly to the vapor state such that it does not pass through the intermediate liquid phase.
Evaporation
To pass off in or as vapor.
Sublimation
(psychology) The transformation of an impulse into something socially constructive.
Evaporation
To produce vapor.
Sublimation
Elevation; exaltation; a making sublime.
Evaporation
To disappear; vanish
Our fears at last evaporated.
Sublimation
The act or process of subliming, or the state or result of being sublimed.
Evaporation
The process of a liquid converting to the gaseous state.
Sublimation
The act of heightening or improving; exaltation; elevation; purification.
Evaporation
The process in which all or a portion of liquid (in a container) is turned into vapour, in order to increase the concentration of solid matter in the mixture.
Sublimation
That which is sublimed; the product of a purifying process.
Religion is the perfection, refinement, and sublimation of morality.
Evaporation
(archaic) That which is evaporated; vapor.
Sublimation
(chemistry) a change directly from the solid to the gaseous state without becoming liquid
Evaporation
The process by which any substance is converted from a liquid state into, and carried off in, vapor; as, the evaporation of water, of ether, of camphor.
Sublimation
(psychology) modifying the natural expression of an impulse or instinct (especially a sexual one) to one that is socially acceptable
Evaporation
The transformation of a portion of a fluid into vapor, in order to obtain the fixed matter contained in it in a state of greater consistence.
Evaporation
That which is evaporated; vapor.
Evaporation
See Vaporization.
Evaporation
The process of becoming a vapor
Evaporation
The process of extracting moisture
Evaporation
The process by which liquid water transforms into water vapor.
Evaporation from oceans contributes significantly to the water cycle.
Evaporation
A cooling process utilized by humans and animals.
Sweating and its subsequent evaporation help regulate body temperature.
Evaporation
The gradual disappearance of a liquid as it turns into a gas.
Puddles typically evaporate after a sunny day.
Common Curiosities
Can sublimation happen at any temperature?
No, it typically requires low temperatures or specific pressure conditions.
What causes sublimation to occur?
Sublimation occurs when the atmospheric conditions allow solids to pass directly into the gaseous phase without becoming liquid.
How does sublimation differ from evaporation in practical applications?
Sublimation is used in specialized applications like freeze-drying, whereas evaporation is common in cooling and drying processes.
What factors influence the rate of evaporation?
Temperature, surface area, air movement, and humidity are key factors influencing evaporation rates.
How does humidity affect evaporation?
High humidity slows down evaporation because the air has a higher concentration of water vapor and less capacity to absorb more moisture from the liquid.
Why is evaporation important in everyday life?
It plays a critical role in processes like cooling, drying, and the water cycle.
What role does temperature play in sublimation?
While typically associated with low temperatures (as seen in the sublimation of ice in dry environments), increased temperature can also enhance sublimation by providing the necessary energy for the solid to transition into gas.
Is sublimation a common natural process?
Sublimation is less common in nature than evaporation but can occur in specific environments, such as in polar ice caps or high-altitude regions where the pressure is low.
How do substances chosen for sublimation differ from those that evaporate?
Substances that sublimate usually have specific properties that allow them to transition from solid to gas without becoming liquid, unlike more common substances that evaporate from the liquid phase.
What is an example of sublimation in daily life?
An everyday example of sublimation is the use of mothballs, which gradually turn from solid directly into gas to repel moths and other insects.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
