How can you tell the difference between smoke and steam?

Question

Question says all. How can I tell the difference between the two?

Answer 1

Steam comes from evaporating water and typically looks white.  It smells like water or maybe possibly like rain.  If you put your hand in it, it will be very hot (scalding) and probably condense on your hand, leaving it wet.

Smoke contains particles of whatever debris is being burned.  It is typically darker colored and has a distinct odor.  If you sit by a campfire and the wind blows smoke in your face, it will probably sting your eyes and make you cough, but it is not as hot to the touch as steam is, and it will not condense or leave you feeling moist.

Answer 2

steam is hot

and u cant see in smoke

Answer 3

Well the best way to tell the two apart is like this smoke has a smell and steam does not also smoke is more thicker in the air and steam is not hope this helps :)

Answer 4

Aside from the obvious smoke smell and coloration, steam is completely invisible humans. its like wind you can only see the effects of it.  Steam bend the light waves like when something is hot.  Inhaling either would be hazardous to your health.

  Now if you mean water vapor the best way to tell the difference is water vapor will evaporate and dissipate very quickly, while smoke is microscopic ash particles that will not dissipate as fast.

  Another way to tell is the moisture that accumulates on what ever you put over the water vapor, while smoke will manipulate the color of what ever you put over it with no moisture present.

Answer 5

Steam is the gaseous form of water. it like water is odorless and colorless. It can be pressurized and used to operate machinery and even cut metal.

Smoke is the by product of something burning and has a horrible smell depending on what is burning. Smoke is lethal if too much is inhaled during a fire. It's more lethal the the actual fire.

Answer 6

You can't see steam... you can see smoke.

Answer 7

steam is a form of condensation so its wet and doesn't smell like smoke does.

Answer 8

steam is wet and warm and smoke is gray or white and depending on what your burning smells