An evaporation element for liquids, in particular aqueous solutions, has a first reservoir for storing the liquid that is to be evaporated, a second reservoir, which is separated from the first reservoir by a sheet and contains a reagent that in contact with the liquid that is to be evaporated carries out an exothermic chemical reaction, and an opening element which, on actuation, perforates the sheet and in this way brings the reagent into contact with the liquid that is to be evaporated.