Which term describes tendency to transition into a gaseous phase?

Which term describes tendency to transition into a gaseous phase?

• A. Viscosity
• B. Volatility
• C. Solubility
• D. Adsorption

Answer: (B)

Volatility is the tendency of a substance to vaporize and become a gas. It’s linked to vapor pressure: substances with higher vapor pressure at the same temperature escape into the air more readily, so they vaporize quickly. A highly volatile material will evaporate easily and often has a lower boiling point. This concept explains why some solvents or fuels evaporate fast, while others stay liquid longer. By contrast, viscosity measures thickness and resistance to flow, solubility is about how well a substance dissolves, and adsorption is about sticking to surfaces. So volatility directly captures how readily something shifts from a liquid or solid into a gaseous form.

Volatility is the tendency of a substance to vaporize and become a gas. It’s linked to vapor pressure: substances with higher vapor pressure at the same temperature escape into the air more readily, so they vaporize quickly. A highly volatile material will evaporate easily and often has a lower boiling point. This concept explains why some solvents or fuels evaporate fast, while others stay liquid longer. By contrast, viscosity measures thickness and resistance to flow, solubility is about how well a substance dissolves, and adsorption is about sticking to surfaces. So volatility directly captures how readily something shifts from a liquid or solid into a gaseous form.