When water turns to steam, is it called molecular change?

Question

If not, how do describe water turning to steam in a scientific way?

Answer 1

It is not a molecular change.

It is a phase change. Liquid to vapour.

Molecule remains the same. Steam is H2O so is water and ice.

Answer 2

it's a physical change, or a change of phase/state.

basically, when energy is applied to water, the molecules start moving faster and faster. Eventually, they move farther to become liquid, and then, finally, gas. The molecular structure is the same, but there is a difference in the distances between the molecules. And the 'rigidity' of the molecules.

Answer 3

The molecules move much further apart thereby decreasing their molecular attraction but increasing their Kinetic Energy so, yes it's a Physical Molecular change.

Otherwise, scientifically, water to steam is the process of 'Vaporisation' ...A change of State..A Physical change.

Answer 4

No, it's not a molecular change.  The molecules of water are still the same: two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

It's called a "state change".  The liquid water has some definite volume.  The gas (steam) does not -- it will fill whatever container it is in.  In open air, it will expand very quickly.  The change happens when the water, at 100 deg C, gets enough energy to make the molecules move fast enough that they don't "stick" to each other any more.

Answer 5

Change of phase

When an element changes from state (i.e. solid -> water -> steam) it is called phase change or phase transition.

See the link below for more info