Chapter 12, Problem 12.78QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason for burn caused by steam being much more severe than the one caused by boiling water has to be explained.

Concept introduction:

The boiling point of water is ${\text{100}}^{\text{o}}\text{C}$.  When the water boils, steam is produced by partial evaporation of water molecules known as vapor phase.  At the boiling point, the two phases of water “vapor phase” and “liquid phase” just remains in equilibrium with each other and there is no complete conversion of water to steam.  More heat energy is required to convert the water into steam completely.