Basis of differentiation 

Evaporation 

Condensation 

Definition 

Refers to the process in which water gets converted into vapor

Refers to the process in which water vapor gets converted to tiny water droplets 

Occurrence

Can occur at all places, on all surfaces and at all times, and is more frequent when the air is hot, dry and windy

Occurs when the vapor temperature decreases beyond saturation

Phase change

Liquid changes into gas or vapor

Gas changes into liquid or even a solid

Temperature requirements

evaporation can occur at any temperature, but it is faster at higher temperatures

condensation can occur at any temperature, but is more noticeable when there is a large temperature difference between object and atmosphere

Mechanism

In the process, the force of attraction between the particles becomes gradually weaker, ultimately breaking and converting from liquid to gas

In the process, gaseous molecules aggregate around particles such as pollen, dust, and bacteria, ultimately converting from gas to liquid

Heat exchange

Endemic process - energy is consumed 

Exothermic process - energy is released

Molecular force of attraction

When a liquid is heated or pressure is lowered, the molecular force of attraction gets weaker, resulting in the liquid evaporating into a gas

When a gas is cooled or when the pressure is increased, the molecular force of attraction becomes stronger, resulting in the gas condensing to a liquid 

Examples

• Drying wet clothes outdoors

• Drying of smaller natural water bodies such as lakes and ponds

- Steam from boiling water

• Formation of water droplets with water vapor comes in contact with a cooler surface

• Fogging on eyeglasses when you step outdoors into the cold

• Condensation of gases

Application

• For drying materials

• For recovery of salts

• For collection of precipitates

• In refrigerators and air conditioners 

• In air wells and fog fences to prevent or reduce desertification