In a condenser, the refrigerant changes from vapor to liquid as heat is removed.

In a condenser, the refrigerant changes from vapor to liquid as heat is removed.

• A. The refrigerant condensates to a vapor
• B. The refrigerant is compressed to higher pressure
• C. The refrigerant changes from vapor to liquid
• D. The refrigerant evaporates

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is condensation: the refrigerant changes from a vapor to a liquid as it loses heat. In the condenser, the hot, high-pressure refrigerant vapor releases heat to the surrounding air or coolant. As it cools, the vapor molecules slow down and bond into a liquid, releasing latent heat in the process. The refrigerant then exits as a liquid at high pressure, which is how it proceeds to the metering device and evaporator to begin the cycle again. This isn’t about condensating to a vapor—that would require adding heat, which doesn’t happen in the condenser. It isn’t about compression—compression happens in the compressor before the condenser. And it isn’t about evaporation—evaporation occurs in the evaporator, not the condenser.

The main idea here is condensation: the refrigerant changes from a vapor to a liquid as it loses heat. In the condenser, the hot, high-pressure refrigerant vapor releases heat to the surrounding air or coolant. As it cools, the vapor molecules slow down and bond into a liquid, releasing latent heat in the process. The refrigerant then exits as a liquid at high pressure, which is how it proceeds to the metering device and evaporator to begin the cycle again.

This isn’t about condensating to a vapor—that would require adding heat, which doesn’t happen in the condenser. It isn’t about compression—compression happens in the compressor before the condenser. And it isn’t about evaporation—evaporation occurs in the evaporator, not the condenser.