If pressure acting on a liquid is increased, the boiling point will

If pressure acting on a liquid is increased, the boiling point will

• A. Boiling point of the liquid also increases the temperature at which it will boil
• B. Boiling point decreases the temperature at which it will boil
• C. Boiling point stays the same
• D. Liquid boils spontaneously

Answer: (A)

When pressure on a liquid increases, its boiling point rises because boiling occurs when the liquid’s vapor pressure equals the surrounding pressure. If the external pressure is higher, the liquid must be heated to a higher temperature to reach the same vapor pressure, so the temperature at which it boils must increase. For example, in a pressure cooker, the surrounding pressure is higher, so water boils at temperatures above 100°C, allowing faster cooking. The boiling point wouldn’t stay the same or decrease with higher pressure, and boiling won’t occur spontaneously just because the pressure is higher.

When pressure on a liquid increases, its boiling point rises because boiling occurs when the liquid’s vapor pressure equals the surrounding pressure. If the external pressure is higher, the liquid must be heated to a higher temperature to reach the same vapor pressure, so the temperature at which it boils must increase. For example, in a pressure cooker, the surrounding pressure is higher, so water boils at temperatures above 100°C, allowing faster cooking. The boiling point wouldn’t stay the same or decrease with higher pressure, and boiling won’t occur spontaneously just because the pressure is higher.