Question

Why are burns caused by steam more severe than those caused by boiling water?

Answer 1

Because in steam there is additional latent heat of vaporisation present than in boiling water so it causes more severe burns than boiling water.

Answer 2

Boiling water contains a small amount of heat energy while the steam is totally made up of the heat energy of boiling water, along with the latent heat of vapourisation. Hence burns which are caused by steam are much severe than that of those which are caused by boiling water.