During the process of evaporation, liquid water left in an open container gradually cools down.
Which of the following statements best explains why evaporation causes the temperature of the remaining liquid to decrease?
The molecules left in the liquid expand to occupy the empty space, which reduces their overall pressure and temperature.
Only the molecules with the lowest kinetic energy escape, transferring their remaining thermal energy back into the bulk liquid.
The molecules with the highest kinetic energy escape, decreasing the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules.
The escaping vapor molecules absorb heat from the air above, which conducts cold temperature back down to the surface of the liquid.
528 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 2.2 Thermal properties and temperature, covering 2.2.1 Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases, 2.2.2a Internal energy and temperature, 2.2.2b Specific heat capacity, 2.2.3a Melting, boiling, condensation and solidification, 2.2.3b Evaporation, and 2.2.3c Cooling by evaporation. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.