Vapor drift is the result of which process?

• A. Using the wrong pesticide
• B. The volatilization of an active ingredient
• C. Spraying with too high a pressure
• D. Spraying too fast

Answer: (B)

Vapor drift occurs when the active ingredient volatilizes, meaning it changes from liquid to a gas and moves with the air. Pesticides with high vapor pressure or formulations that evaporate easily will release molecules into the surrounding air, especially in warm conditions, allowing them to travel away from the target area as a vapor. This gas‑phase movement is what causes vapor drift, not the physical transport of liquid droplets. The other scenarios involve factors that affect droplet drift or application practices, but they don’t describe the chemical turning into vapor and moving through the air.