Why do we feel more severe burns from steam at 100°C than from boiling water at the same temperature?
BiologyClass 9CBSEAnswered 12 May 2026
Answer
Steam at 100°C contains more heat energy than boiling water at 100°C due to the latent heat of vaporization.
When steam condenses on the skin, it releases this additional latent heat (approximately 22.5 × 105 J/kg) in addition to the heat released by cooling from 100°C. This extra heat causes more severe burns.
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