Have you ever wondered what’s really happening when water starts to furiously bubble and turn into steam? It’s not just getting hot; it’s reached a very special point!
This special point is called the “boiling point.” It’s the exact temperature at which a liquid turns into a gas, creating those visible bubbles and steam.
For pure water, at sea level, this magic temperature is exactly 100 degrees Celsius, or 212 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the water molecules have enough energy to break free from the liquid and become vapor.
But here’s a cool fact: the boiling point isn’t always the same! If you’re high up in the mountains, where the air pressure is lower, water boils at a slightly lower temperature. That’s because there’s less pressure pushing down on the water, making it easier for it to turn into gas.
So, next time you boil water for tea or pasta, remember, you’re not just heating it up. You’re giving those water molecules enough energy to dance their way into the air, right at their specific boiling point!