At 212 degrees Fahrenheit, a cubic foot of water expands to about how many times its original volume when turned to steam?

At 212 degrees Fahrenheit, a cubic foot of water expands to about how many times its original volume when turned to steam?

• A. 1700
• B. 1000
• C. 500
• D. 250

Answer: (A)

When water reaches 212°F it boils at atmospheric pressure and becomes steam. The liquid is dense, but the resulting steam is very light, so the same mass expands dramatically in volume. The expansion ratio for boiling water at this condition is about 1,700 times. Put simply, a cubic foot of liquid water becomes roughly 1,700 cubic feet of steam. That’s why the correct choice is about 1,700. If you check the scale, you’ll see that other values like 1000, 500, or 250 are far too small for the volume change that occurs during vaporization at standard pressure.

When water reaches 212°F it boils at atmospheric pressure and becomes steam. The liquid is dense, but the resulting steam is very light, so the same mass expands dramatically in volume. The expansion ratio for boiling water at this condition is about 1,700 times. Put simply, a cubic foot of liquid water becomes roughly 1,700 cubic feet of steam. That’s why the correct choice is about 1,700. If you check the scale, you’ll see that other values like 1000, 500, or 250 are far too small for the volume change that occurs during vaporization at standard pressure.