Question

What produces more severe burns, boiling water or steam?

NCERT Class IX
Sciences - Main Course Book

Chapter 1. Matter in our Surroundings

Answer 1

Steam produces more severe burns then boiling water.

When water changes into steam at its boiling point it absorbs latent heat of vaporization.
The latent heat of vaporization is 22.5 × 10^5 joules/kg.
This means that steam at 100°C contains much more heat (in the form of latent heat ) than boiling water at the same temperature of 100°C , so when steam falls on our skin and condenses to form water it gives out 22.5 × 10^5 joules/kg of more heat than boiling water at the same temperature.

Since steam gives out much more heat than boiling water it causes more severe burns..

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