Volatility is a function of the vapor pressure of a compound. Vapor pressures at
a particular temperature can vary over many orders of magnitude. Of common
organic liquids, diethyl ether has one of the highest vapor pressures, whereas those
of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are very low. When a volatile liquid is present
in soil or in water, its water solubility also determines how well it evaporates.