What is the nature of volatility?
Volatility is the property of a substance to change from a liquid or solid state to a gaseous state and is an important concept in physical chemistry. It directly affects the storage, transportation, environmental behavior and industrial applications of substances. This article will systematically analyze the nature of volatility from the aspects of definition, influencing factors, application scenarios and recent hot topics.
1. Definition and influencing factors of volatility

Volatility is usually usedvapor pressureorboiling pointto measure. The higher the vapor pressure or the lower the boiling point, the more volatile the substance is. The following is a comparison of the volatility of common substances:
| matter | Boiling point (℃) | Vapor pressure (25℃, kPa) |
|---|---|---|
| water | 100 | 3.17 |
| ethanol | 78.37 | 5.95 |
| acetone | 56.05 | 24.7 |
The main factors affecting volatility include:
1.intermolecular forces: Polar molecules (such as water) are less volatile due to hydrogen bonding.
2.temperature: An increase in temperature significantly increases vapor pressure.
3.surface area: The larger the liquid surface area, the faster the evaporation rate.
2. Volatile application scenarios
1.Chemical industry: Volatile solvents (such as acetone) are widely used in coatings and cleaning agents.
2.environmental science: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are an important source of air pollution.
3.Medical field: The volatility of anesthetics directly affects its effectiveness.
3. Recent hot topics: Volatility and environmental pollution
In the past 10 days, the following volatility-related issues have triggered widespread discussion:
| topic | keywords | heat index |
|---|---|---|
| New regulations on VOCs management | Environmental protection policy, industrial emissions | ★★★★☆ |
| Lithium battery electrolyte volatilization problem | New energy and safety hazards | ★★★☆☆ |
| Controversy over volatile ingredients in perfume | Cosmetics, health risks | ★★☆☆☆ |
4. Summary
Volatility is an important physical property of matter, and its research is of great significance to industry, environmental protection and daily life. As environmental protection requirements increase, the development of low-volatility materials will become a future trend. At the same time, public concern about the health effects of volatile substances will continue to rise.
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