Water vapour in the air loses energy on contacting the cold surface and converts to liquid.
Explanation
The phenomenon described is condensation, a physical change in the state of matter where a substance transitions from a gaseous phase to a liquid phase due to a loss of thermal energy.
Detailed Analysis:
- Water seeps through the pores of the glass. is incorrect: Glass is a non-porous solid. Water molecules cannot seep through the structural lattice of glass under normal conditions.
- The cold glass releases water molecules. is incorrect: Glass does not contain water within its structure to release. The water droplets appear on the surface, not from within the material.
- Water vapour in the air loses energy on contacting the cold surface and converts to liquid. is correct: The air surrounding the glass contains water vapour (humidity). When these water vapour molecules come into contact with the cold surface of the glass containing ice-cold water, they transfer heat energy to the glass. This loss of kinetic energy causes the gas molecules to slow down and aggregate, undergoing a phase change from gas to liquid, resulting in the formation of water droplets.
- Evaporation of water from the glass surface condenses immediately. is incorrect: While evaporation occurs at the water surface inside the glass, the droplets on the outer surface are derived from the ambient air, not the water inside the glass.
Key Takeaway:
Condensation is the process by which water vapour in the air loses latent heat upon contact with a cooler surface, converting into liquid water.