Answer to Question #30549 in Physical Chemistry for Kara

Question

A teakettle of water boils on a stove. If you hold a cold plate near the spout, water appears on the plate. Can you explain why this happens?

Answer 1

When teakettle of water boils, water vapor leaves the teakettle. Water vapor is the gaseous state of water, which is stable when the temperature is high. When temperature is lower then 100 degrees of celsius, liquid state is stable. So, when something cold appears on the vapor's way, the water becomes liquid.