0
A thin layer of oil on top of water will mostly prevent the water from evaporating, because the oil will float on top of the water and keep the water molecules from escaping from the water's surface. Water dissolves very little in ordinary oil, so hardly any water molecules diffuse through the oil.
Some oils evaporate themselves, though, and if you wait long enough, the oil may evaporate away, leaving a hole for the water underneath to evaporate. If the oil layer is too thin, it may leave a hole somewhere for the water molecules to escape by evaporation. Emulsifying agents, like soap, stick to oil molecules and to water molecules, allowing the two to mix. Adding soap to water with oil on top of it may allow the water to evaporate.
Really dirty oil, like the stuff you get out of car engines if the oil isn't changed often enough, may contain so many small metal particles in it that it will sink in water. This kind of oil will just sit on the bottom and not affect the evaporation rate.
Answer by MfAnswers
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is the opening on the underside of a leaf that prevents water from evaporating?
Opening/closing of leaf pores (stoma) has the purpose to control evaporation.
Water is distilled by evaporating it usually by adding something and bringing it to boil?
Water is distilled by evaporating it, usually by adding heat and bringing it to boil
What is evaporating water with 5 letters?
Evaporated water is vapor.
What does steam mean in cooking?
water evaporating
How does water get mineral salts?
Evaporating the water salts are obtained from the solutions.
What prevents water from evaporating from the earths surface?
Lower temperature and the counter-effect of condensation.
What is the opening on the underside of a leaf that prevents water from evaporating?
Opening/closing of leaf pores (stoma) has the purpose to control evaporation.
Why would a plant cuticle be an adaptations on land?
The cuticle is thick and waxy. Thanks to the Cuticle, it helps reduce the rate of water loss, which also benefits in dry environments, and hot seasons such as in deserts. Water is very little, so plants can survive longer witout water.
What prevents vinegar from evaporating?
Vinegar will evaporate - though perhaps more slowly than plain water. But you must remember, ordinary white vinegar for kitchen use is still 96% water.
Is water always evaporating or sometimes evaporating?
Water in an open system is allways evaporated.
Why it is good practice to water plants in the evening during summer and early in the morning during winter?
watering in the evening usually prevents the water evaporating, and early morning is to prevent it from frosting/freezing up...
What do you call evaporating water?
You can call evaporating water by a number of names, but the most common are water vapor and steam.
How can you get salt out of seawater?
By evaporating the sea water. What remains is salt.
If water is evaporating when car over heating is wate pump bad?
yes the water pump would be bad if its evaporating the water very quick.
What do you have to do for evaporating water?
you know that haa..
What are the particles of water doing if the water is evaporating?
if aliquid is evaporating the particles are far apart and move very quickly randomly ! :D
Where is most of the water evaporating from?
Water is evaporated mostly from bodies of water.
