Which of the following physical qualities affects the saturated vapour pressure of a liquid ?
Answer Details
The physical quality that affects the saturated vapour pressure of a liquid is temperature. Saturated vapour pressure is the pressure exerted by the vapour present in a system at equilibrium with its condensed phase, usually a liquid. As temperature increases, the average kinetic energy of the liquid molecules increases, causing more molecules to escape from the liquid phase and enter the gas phase. This leads to an increase in the number of gas molecules, which in turn results in an increase in pressure. As a result, the saturated vapour pressure of a liquid increases with increasing temperature, and decreases with decreasing temperature. Therefore, temperature is the correct answer. The other options - volume, mass, and density - do not directly affect the saturated vapour pressure of a liquid.