why is a burn from steam potentially more serios than a burn from very hot water?

Water at boiling temperature has a specific heat of 1 calorie per gram. Steam, however, at the same temperature, has a heat of vaporization of 540 calories/gram. Thefore, steam condenses and releases 540 calories per gram but hot water releases 1 calorie per gram (per degree). Big difference.

thanks!!!

1,040 calories

You're welcome! I'm glad I could help explain the difference between a burn from steam and a burn from very hot water.

A burn from steam can potentially be more serious than a burn from very hot water because of the difference in the amount of heat energy involved. Let me explain further:

When water is heated to its boiling point, it turns into steam. The process of converting water into steam requires a large amount of heat energy, which is referred to as the heat of vaporization. For water, the heat of vaporization is approximately 540 calories (or 2,260 joules) per gram.

On the other hand, when water is just very hot, it remains in liquid form. The amount of heat energy released by hot water is determined by its specific heat, which is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount. For water, the specific heat is approximately 1 calorie (or 4.18 joules) per gram per degree Celsius.

So, when steam comes into contact with your skin, it rapidly releases a significant amount of heat energy as it condenses back into liquid water. This sudden release of a large amount of heat can cause more severe burns because the heat is concentrated in a small area.

In contrast, when very hot water comes into contact with your skin, it releases heat energy as well, but at a lower rate compared to steam. The heat energy is distributed over a larger surface area since the water remains in liquid form, which can result in less severe burns.

It's important to note that both steam burns and burns from very hot water can still be serious and should be treated appropriately. It's always best to exercise caution around hot substances and seek medical attention if you sustain a burn.