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Difficulty: EasyVapour Pressure, Boiling, Evaporation, and Relative Humidity

The boiling point of a liquid decreases when the external atmospheric pressure acting on its surface is reduced.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is True.
Boiling occurs when the saturated vapour pressure of a liquid equals the external atmospheric pressure. Decreasing the external atmospheric pressure reduces the saturated vapour pressure threshold required for boiling, allowing the liquid to boil at a lower temperature.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the condition required for boiling to occur.
Boiling takes place when the saturated vapour pressure of the liquid equals the external atmospheric pressure.
This is the fundamental physical definition of boiling.
2
Analyze the effect of reducing external atmospheric pressure.
Lower external pressure means the required saturated vapour pressure is reached at a lower temperature.
Saturated vapour pressure increases with temperature, so a lower target pressure corresponds to a lower boiling temperature.

Key Concept

Dependence of Boiling Point on External Atmospheric Pressure
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Topics

Vapour Pressure, Boiling, Evaporation, and Relative Humidity

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