What is the relationship between temperature and vapor pressure?

The relationship between temperature and vapor pressure is described as directly proportional. As the temperature of a substance increases, the vapor pressure also increases. This occurs because higher temperatures provide molecules with more energy, enabling more molecules to escape from the liquid phase to the vapor phase.

At any given temperature, some molecules will have enough kinetic energy to overcome intermolecular forces, allowing them to enter the vapor state. As the temperature rises, a greater number of molecules gain sufficient energy to make this transition, which results in a higher vapor pressure. This is a fundamental principle in physical chemistry and is critical for understanding phenomena such as boiling points and evaporation rates.

Understanding that the relationship is direct helps in various applications, including predicting how substances behave under different thermal conditions. This insight informs both theoretical predictions and practical applications across fields such as meteorology, chemical engineering, and environmental science.