Is condensation (gas --> liquid) exothermic?

[Lazerous]

This is in regards to the very last part of the solution to Destroyer GChem #152

If condensation is an exothermic reaction then someone please explain to me how...

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[futuredent22]

You know that liquid + heat -> gas. That is endothermic. Condensation is just the reverse of the above reaction, so gas -> liquid + heat. Its exothermic.

 

[jdent]

Think like this- to defrost something frozen you heat it up so its endothermic. So to do the opposite meaning to go from gas to liquid to solid is exothermic.

 

[topdent1]

Well, you don't require heat to go from gas to liquid. That should automatically tell you its NOT endothermic. Also, when the liquid is formed, more bonds are made, thus releasing heat. Anyone else?

 

[jdent]

Emory you beat me by fractions of seconds- ill get u next time!

 

[Lazerous]

Ummmm....wow, I feel so stupid now for asking such a simple question. I was thinking of it all wrong.
I was thinking that condensation = cooling. And there was a question before that said something reacted with water and the temperature dropped so that means it is endothermic. And that is how I thought of this.

But if I'm not mistaken, one is talking about the surroundings and the other is talking about the system (water). So in condensation the water will be cooling down but it's surroundings will increase in temp because it is exothermic?

 

[jdent]

Ummmm....wow, I feel so stupid now for asking such a simple question. I was thinking of it all wrong.
I was thinking that condensation = cooling. And there was a question before that said something reacted with water and the temperature dropped so that means it is endothermic. And that is how I thought of this.

But if I'm not mistaken, one is talking about the surroundings and the other is talking about the system (water). So in condensation the water will be cooling down but it's surroundings will increase in temp because it is exothermic?

In condensation the water cools down and surrounding you can say heat up. Its like when your car steams up the windshield is watery a bit.