Question

Water as ice has a cooling effect, where as water as steam may cause severe burns. Explain these observations.

Answer 1

• When water as ice melts it absorbs a certain amount of heat from the surface (skin) in contact and thus produces a cooling effect on the surface.
• Whereas when water as steam touches the skin, it condenses on the skin, and releases the latent heat of vaporization [ the heat which the boiling water absorb to get converted to vapour (steam)].
• Therefore, it may cause severe burns.