Condensation

Condensation is when a gas, like water vapor, turns into a liquid. It is the opposite of vaporization, where a liquid turns into a gas. We see condensation most often in the water cycle.

When water vapor in the air touches a cold surface or tiny particles called cloud condensation nuclei, it changes from a gas to liquid water. This helps form clouds and rain. When water vapor changes from a gas to a solid, this is called deposition, but usually condensation makes water.

Condensation happens when a gas, like vapor, cools down or gets squeezed. When this happens, the gas turns into a liquid. Machines that cool and squeeze vapor to collect the liquid are called condensers.

Many animals and plants use water from condensation to survive. The Australian thorny devil gets water this way. The darkling beetles on the Namibian coast also use this method. Even tall coast redwoods on the West Coast of the United States benefit from this water.

Condensation is very important in a process called distillation. People use this in labs and factories. Some buildings are made to collect water from condensation, like air wells and fog fences. These can help keep soil wet in dry places, and some groups teach people there how to get water from the air.