condensation

1 (psychoanalysis) an unconscious process whereby two ideas or images combine into a single symbol; especially in dreams

2 the process of changing from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state

3 atmospheric moisture that has condensed because of cold [syn: condensate]

4 the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together; "the contraction of a gas on cooling" [syn: compression, contraction]

5 a shortened version of a written work [syn: abridgement, abridgment, capsule]

6 the act of increasing the density of something [syn: condensing]

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃǝn

Noun

1. The act or process of condensing or of being condensed; the state of being condensed.
2. The act or process of reducing, by depression of temperature or increase of pressure, etc., to another and denser form, as gas to the condition of a liquid or steam to water.
3. A rearrangement or concentration of the different constituents of one or more substances into a distinct and definite compound of greater complexity and molecular weight, often resulting in an increase of density, as the condensation of oxygen into ozone, or of acetone into mesitylene.

Derived terms

• condensation trail

The term of condensation is also used in chemistry see Condensation (organic chemistry) and Condensation reaction and the term condensate is also used in particle physics where it describes a particular state of matter''.

Condensation is the change of the physical state of aggregation (or simply state) of matter from gaseous phase into liquid phase. When the transition happens from the gaseous phase into the solid phase directly, bypassing the liquid phase the change is called deposition, which is the opposite of sublimation.

Condensation commonly occurs when a vapor is cooled to its dew point, but the dewpoint can also be reached through compression. The condensed vapour is called a condensate, the laboratory or the industrial equipment used for condensation is called a condenser.

The science of studying the thermodynamic properties of moist air and the interrelationships between these in order to analyze, and predict properties by changing in the conditions of moist air is called psychrometry. The interrelationship can be graphically represented, and prediction carried out graphically by the psychrometric chart Most people think the water is condensation, but condensation is only the process of change.

Condensation in buildings

Condensation is the most common form of dampness encountered in buildings. In buildings the internal air can have a high level of relative humidity due to the activity of the occupants (e.g. cooking, drying clothes, breathing etc.). When this air comes into contact with cold surfaces such as windows and cold walls it can condense, causing dampness. Condensation is change from a gas to a liquid. Condensation is when water vapor cools to a liquid.

Applications of condensation

Condensation is a crucial component of distillation, an important application in laboratory and industrial chemistry application.

Because condensation is a naturally occurring phenomenon, it can often be used to generate water in large quantities for human use. In fact, there are many structures that are made solely for the purpose of collecting water from condensation, such as fog fences, air wells and dew ponds. Such system can often be used to retain soil moisture in areas where active desertification is occurring. In fact, certain organizations use education about water condensers in efforts to effectively aid such areas.

References

See also

• Kelvin equation
• Phase diagram
• Phase transition
• Condenser (heat transfer)
• Surface condenser
• Bose–Einstein condensate

External links

• Condensation Myths and Facts
• Guide to condensation in buildings and how to overcome

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