Steam produces more severe burns than boiling water, even though both are at 100°C. Steam contains the additional latent heat of vaporization, which is released as heat when it condenses on the skin, causing a more intense burn.
Here’s why steam is more damaging:
Latent Heat:
When water boils, it needs to absorb heat to turn into steam. This heat is called the latent heat of vaporization.
Energy Release:
When steam comes into contact with the skin, it condenses back into water. This process releases the stored latent heat, causing a much higher temperature rise in the skin than boiling water, which only has its temperature to transfer heat.