Why is it more damaging to tissue to recieve burn from steam than from hot water?

Question

Why is it more damaging to tissue to recieve burn from steam than from hot water?

Answer 1

Steam damages tissue more than hot water does because it contains more energy...if tissue comes into contact with water at, say, 90 degrees Celsius, what follows is simply transfer of heat energy from one medium to another. With steam, however, you've got to first turn the steam into water at 100 degrees...then the water loses energy and burns the tissue.

Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

I guess it's becuase steam is hotter (it has already evaporated).

Answer 3

Steam is more damaging for tissue than hot water because it contains more energy. For example: water (liquid, 100°C, 1 bar) has a enthalpy of 400 KJ/Kg while steam ( 100°C,1 bar) has a enthalpy of 2600 KJ/Kg.

While condensing on tissue the enthalpy of 2200 KJ/Kg is transferred to tissue. Not only the surface will be destroyed but also large parts of skin laying beneath.

Steam is more volatile than liquid water so it can reach body parts which water can't access ( e.g cloth protected body parts).