Volatile: definition in chemistry
Volatile: Describes a substance that evaporates easily at normal temperatures, like rubbing alcohol or acetone.
Volatile substances have weak forces between their particles, so they have a high vapor pressure and usually a low boiling point. That is why you can smell perfume or gasoline from a distance: molecules escape into the air quickly. Volatility matters for safety, because the vapors of many volatile liquids are flammable or harmful to breathe.
Examples
- Acetone in nail polish remover evaporates within seconds
- Rubbing alcohol feels cold as it evaporates from your skin
- Gasoline vapor is what makes spilled fuel so flammable
- Perfume releases scent molecules that quickly spread through a room
On the periodic table
The most volatile elements are at the upper right of the table: the noble gases and lighter halogens are gases, bromine is a liquid that gives off vapor at room temperature, and iodine slowly gives off violet vapor.