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The equilibrium partial pressure of water vapor with a source of water in another phase is not zero for most temperature and pressure regimes on earth, that is
by mercutio2 3y ago
The equilibrium partial pressure of water vapor with a source of water in another phase is not zero for most temperature and pressure regimes on earth, that is true.
But thermodynamics still hold; the water vapor is still in a more energetic state than liquid water or ice.
- tsimionescu 3y agoEnergy levels are one thing, but liquids are just a fundamentally unstable state of matter. Absent external pressures, they will either evaporate or freeze depending on temperature. Most likely, with very low atmospheric pressures such as in the vacuum of space, the outer parts will quickly vaporize, consuming energy from the inner parts which will then freeze. Basically, some amount of a liquid will move to the higher energy state, and other parts will move to a lower energy state. The energy to vaporize some of the liquid doesn't need to come from something external to the liquid.