Chapter 23, Problem 49A

Room-temperature water will boil spontaneously in a vacuum—on the moon, for example. Could you cook an egg in this boiling water? Defend your answer.

To determine

To Explain: The reason that water boils spontaneously in vacuum and an egg be cooked in it.

Answer to Problem 49A

No, an egg cannot be cooked in a boiling water in vacuum.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction: Boiling point is that temperature at which a substance changes its state from liquid to gas at a particular pressure. Boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure is $100°\text{C}$ .

As the pressure decreases, the distance between the molecules of the water increases and it requires less energy to expand to the gaseous state. So, the temperature required to change the state decreases and hence the boiling point of water decreases with the decrease in pressure on it.

The cooking of food depends upon the amount of heat which is given to the substance being cooked. So decrease in boiling point reduces the heat given to the substance and hence it is not cooked.

Conclusion:

No, an egg cannot be cooked in boiling water in vacuum because heat available for it is less.