What is the process of heating a liquid until its vapor pressure equals atmospheric pressure called?

The process of heating a liquid until its vapor pressure equals atmospheric pressure is referred to as boiling. During boiling, the temperature of the liquid rises until it reaches a point where the vapor pressure, which is the pressure exerted by the vapor in equilibrium with its liquid, equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure. At this stage, bubbles of vapor form within the liquid and rise to the surface, leading to the characteristic bubbling associated with boiling.

The significance of this process lies in its application across various fields, including cooking, distillation, and numerous industrial processes. Understanding boiling is essential for respiratory care practitioners, as it also relates to concepts of gas exchange and humidity in respiratory therapy.

Condensation involves the transition of vapor to liquid, which is the opposite of the boiling process, while evaporation refers to the gradual change of liquid to vapor at temperatures below its boiling point. Freezing is the process of a liquid becoming solid, which is unrelated to vapor pressure dynamics of liquids. Each of these processes serves different roles in physical chemistry and health care practices.