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== Vapour ==

'''Vapour''' (pronounced: /ˈveɪpər/), also spelled '''vapor''' in American English, is a substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical temperature, which means that the vapour can be condensed to a liquid by increasing the pressure without reducing the temperature.

=== Etymology ===

The term "vapour" comes from the Latin word ''vapor'', which means "steam, heat, exhalation".

=== Related Terms ===

* [[Gas]]: A state of matter consisting of particles with enough kinetic energy to move freely.
* [[Liquid]]: A nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure.
* [[Condensation]]: The change of the physical state of matter from gas phase into liquid phase.
* [[Evaporation]]: The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.
* [[Sublimation (phase transition)]]: The transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state.
* [[Desublimation]]: The conversion of a substance from the gaseous to the solid state, bypassing the liquid state.

== Medical Relevance ==

In the medical field, vapour is often used in the form of [[steam therapy]], which is a common method for treating congestion, colds, and other respiratory conditions. It is also used in [[vaporizers]] for administering medications or for providing relief from certain conditions.

== See Also ==

* [[Vapor pressure]]
* [[Vaporization]]
* [[Vaporizer (inhalation device)]]

[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Medical terminology]]

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