Is Condensation Endothermic or Exothermic? (And Why?)

Condensation is an exothermic process. ¹ It releases energy to the surroundings as the gas molecules lose kinetic energy and transition into the liquid phase. The energy is released in the form of heat, resulting in an increase in the temperature of the surrounding environment. ²

Well, this was just a simple answer. But there are few more things to know about this topic which will make your concept super clear.

So let’s dive right into it.

Why is condensation an exothermic process?

Condensation is an exothermic process because it involves the release of heat energy. Exothermic processes are those in which energy is transferred from the system to the surroundings. ³ In the case of condensation, a gas or vapor undergoes a phase change and transforms into a liquid or solid state.

When a gas condenses, its molecules or atoms come closer together, resulting in a decrease in the kinetic energy of the particles.

This decrease in kinetic energy corresponds to a decrease in the internal energy of the substance. To conserve energy, the excess energy is released in the form of heat to the surroundings.

The release of heat energy during condensation is essential for the conservation of energy and the overall stability of the system.

It helps maintain the energy balance by transferring the excess energy gained during the vaporization process back to the surroundings.

It’s worth noting that not all phase transitions involve an exothermic process. For example, the process of vaporization (from liquid to gas) is endothermic because it requires an input of energy to break the intermolecular forces and increase the kinetic energy of the particles.

Why is condensation not an endothermic process?

Condensation is not an endothermic process because it involves the release of heat energy to the surroundings. When a gas condenses into a liquid or solid, the molecules come closer together and their kinetic energy decreases. This decrease in energy is balanced by the release of heat, making condensation an exothermic process.

During condensation, the gas molecules lose kinetic energy as they transition into a more ordered state of liquid or solid.

This reduction in kinetic energy corresponds to a decrease in the internal energy of the substance. To maintain energy balance, the excess energy is released as heat to the surroundings.

The release of heat energy during condensation is crucial for maintaining the stability of the system. It allows the gas molecules to transition to a lower energy state, resulting in a more stable configuration.

Without the release of heat energy, the condensation process would be unable to occur, as energy would need to be supplied to the system rather than being released.

In summary, condensation is an exothermic process because it involves the release of heat energy to the surroundings, allowing gas molecules to transition into a more ordered state. This release of heat helps maintain energy balance and the overall stability of the system.

Further reading

Is Deposition Endothermic or Exothermic?
Is Boiling Endothermic or Exothermic?
Is Photosynthesis Endothermic or Exothermic?
Is Combustion Endothermic or Exothermic?
Is Melting Ice Endothermic or Exothermic?

1. 11.4: Phase Changes. (2014, November 18). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Map%3A_Chemistry_-_The_Central_Science_(Brown_et_al.)/11%3A_Liquids_and_Intermolecular_Forces/11.04%3A_Phase_Changes
2. Phase Change and Latent Heat | Physics. (n.d.). Phase Change and Latent Heat | Physics. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-physics/chapter/14-3-phase-change-and-latent-heat/
3. 5.2: The First Law of Thermodynamics. (2014, November 18). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Map%3A_Chemistry_-_The_Central_Science_(Brown_et_al.)/05%3A_Thermochemistry/5.02%3A_The_First_Law_of_Thermodynamics