Why does 100o steam burn more than 100o water?

[loveoforganic]

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This is out of TBR Chem. Is this only the case if you assume that the steam condenses on you?

 

[Doodl3s]

Well, what else is it going to "burn"? The same principles will apply to inorganic objects, which is just that steam requires ALOT more energy (the added heat of vaporization) in order to drop to a liquid and then reach equilibrium with the source it touches...

 

[matth87]

Steam has more energy then water because energy has to be added in "heat of vaporization" to convert water to steam. This energy does not raise the temperature but increase the total energy in the molecule. That is why it burns more. Steam has more energy then water.

 

[Fort]

If you put your hand over a steaming pot of water, the steam condenses to water on your hand, so a phase change has occurred. The heat released from the condensation goes directly to your hand, which is a lot due to the latent heat of vaporization. Putting your hand in water at the same temperature won't have the same effect because the water is already condensed, so most of the energy that would normally burn you isn't there. The only energy going into your hand would be from the water cooling until thermal equilibrium.

 

[loveoforganic]

got it, thanks 🙂