Question

Explain why steam burns are severe?

Answer 1

Steam has much more energy than boiling water as it contains latent heat of vaporisation which is quite high for water which is 2260kJ/kg. So steam burns are more severe.

Answer 2

latent heat of vapourisation of steam is 2260 x10*10kj/kg and this is much more than the specific heat capacity ofboiled waer.ie 1kg of steam has much more energy than 1kg of boiled water so steam burns are severe