In chemistry, volatility is a measure of how readily a substance vaporizes). A substance is said to be volatile if it boils at a low temperature, changing from the liquid to the gas phase. Substances that are gases at room temperature are extremely volatile, while a substance with low volatility is more likely to be a liquid or solid). Volatility can also describe the tendency of a vapor to condense into a liquid or solid; less volatile substances will more readily condense from a vapor than highly volatile ones).
An important factor influencing a substances volatility is the strength of the interactions between its molecules). Attractive forces between molecules are what holds materials together, and materials with stronger intermolecular forces, such as most solids, are typically not very volatile). Ethanol and dimethyl ether, two chemicals with the same formula (C2H6O), have different volatilities due to the different interactions that occur between their molecules in the liquid phase).
Volatility is an important consideration when crafting perfumes, as humans detect odors when aromatic vapors enter the nose). Organic chemicals that easily form vapors are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) . Given the health and physical hazards associated with common VOCs, many companies have either reduced their use of these materials or substituted other, less hazardous, materials and processes.
In summary, volatility in chemistry refers to how readily a substance vaporizes, and it is influenced by the strength of the interactions between its molecules. A substance that boils at a low temperature and changes from the liquid to the gas phase is said to be volatile. Volatility is an important consideration in fields such as perfumery and environmental science.
