condensing

Condensing is the process by which a substance transitions from a gaseous state to a liquid, typically as heat is removed or pressure is increased. In simple terms, gas molecules lose enough energy to enter a lower-energy liquid phase. Condensation is governed by thermodynamic concepts such as vapor pressure, saturation, and latent heat of vaporization. The temperature at which a gas begins to condense at a given pressure is called the condensation point; in atmospheric contexts, the analogous value is the dew point.

In practical applications, condensation is central to cooling, power generation, and chemical processing. In refrigeration and air conditioning, a hot, high-pressure vapor is condensed in a heat exchanger, releasing latent heat to a coolant and forming a liquid that can be recompressed. In power plants, steam produced in boilers is returned to a liquid state in condensers, enabling continuous cycling. The efficiency of condensation depends on heat transfer area, surface properties, impurities, and nucleation sites.

Natural phenomena include the formation of dew on surfaces and fog in the air, both resulting from water vapor condensing upon cooling surfaces or air. Condensation can be distinguished from deposition, where a gas forms a solid directly, bypassing the liquid phase.

Beyond physical processes, the term condensing is also used in information theory and writing to mean making content shorter and more concise. Condensing information aims to preserve essential meaning while reducing length, but may risk loss of nuance if not careful.

See also: dew point, vapor pressure, latent heat, refrigeration cycle, condensation (phase change).