The boiling point of water is the temperature at which water vapor turns into liquid water. It’s also known as the saturation point, because once water reaches that temperature, it can’t hold any more water vapor. At sea level, water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius. That’s why we use it for cooking and cleaning purposes. But what happens if you drop water at a higher altitude? Will it still boil at the same temperature? The answer is no. The boiling point of water changes with the atmospheric pressure. This article explains everything about boiling point of water and why it changes with atmospheric pressure.

What is the boiling point of water at sea level?

At sea level, water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius. That’s why we use it for cooking and cleaning purposes. But what happens if you drop water at a higher altitude? Will it still boil at the same temperature? The answer is no. The boiling point of water changes with the atmospheric pressure. This article explains everything about boiling point of water and why it changes with atmospheric pressure.

How does atmospheric pressure affect boiling point?

Atmospheric pressure affects boiling point because water vapor has more energy than liquid water, and it has to give that energy to the surrounding water molecules in order to change from a vapor to a liquid. At lower pressures, the water vapor molecules have more energy than they do at higher pressures. This means that the water vapor molecules will move faster and hit the water molecules surrounding them with more force. This is why water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes.At sea level, the atmospheric pressure is 14.7 pounds per square inch. When water molecules are under this atmospheric pressure, they have more energy than they do at higher altitudes. This means that the water vapor molecules move faster and hit the water molecules surrounding them with more force. This is why water boils at a lower temperature at sea level.

How to find the boiling point of water at a higher altitude?

To find the boiling point of water at a higher altitude, you can use the formula below:Boiling Point of Water (at a higher altitude): Temperature in Celsius degrees × .5236 - (32.2 - (61.2 × atmospheric pressure in psi))

Conclusion

The boiling point of water changes with the atmospheric pressure. At sea level, the boiling point of water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius. But at high altitudes, the boiling point of water is lower because the atmospheric pressure is lower. When you drop water at a higher altitude, you can use the formula below to find out the boiling point of water at a higher altitude: Temperature in Celsius degrees × .5236 - (32.2 - (61.2 × atmospheric pressure in psi)).