Why a liquids boiling point decreases at reduced pressure (vaccum) & increases at high pressure? ?
The boiling point of a liquid is when the vapor pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure. If there is no atmospheric pressure (vacuum), then the molecules leaving the liquid (vapor pressure) will be far greater than the virtually non-existant atmospheric pressure. Under a high atmospheric pressure, the molecules in the liquid would have to “push harder” to exit the liquid. In order for this to happen, the kinetic energy of the molecules must be higher, so they need a higher temp.
