As the temperature of a liquid rises, its vapour pressure

  • A. decreases
  • B. remains constant
  • C. increases
  • D. first increases and then decreases

Explanation

Higher temperature means a larger fraction of molecules have enough kinetic energy to escape the surface, so more vapour is present at equilibrium and the pressure rises, following an exponential rather than a straight line relationship. The boiling point is simply the temperature at which this rising curve meets the external pressure. This is why a liquid in a sealed container can burst it when heated.

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