A burn from steam at 100 °C is expected to be more severe than a burn from boiling water at 100 °C because
A) you are more likely to come into contact with the steam than with the boiling water.
B) the steam will give off a larger amount of heat as it condenses.
C) there is more steam than water.
D) the steam is hotter than the boiling water.

Question

A burn from steam at 100 °C is expected to be more severe than a burn from boiling water at 100 °C because 
A) you are more likely to come into contact with the steam than with the boiling water. 
B) the steam will give off a larger amount of heat as it condenses. 
C) there is more steam than water. 
D) the steam is hotter than the boiling water.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Steam causes more severe burns than boiling water at the same temperature because as steam condenses into water on the skin, it releases a large amount of latent heat, transferring more energy to the skin than boiling water would.

A Burn from Steam at 100 °C Is Expected to Be