Use Boyle's law to explain why it is dangerous to heat even a small quantity of water in a sealed container.

Answer 1

Boyle's law states that the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional when the temperature is constant. This means that as the volume of a gas decreases, the pressure of the gas increases.

When water is heated in a sealed container, the temperature of the water increases, causing it to evaporate and turn into steam. As the water turns into steam, the volume of gas inside the sealed container increases. According to Boyle's law, when the volume of a gas increases, the pressure of the gas also increases.

If the pressure inside the sealed container becomes too high, it can lead to an explosion. This is because the container is not able to withstand the pressure, causing it to rupture and release the steam and hot water. This can result in serious injuries and damage to nearby objects.

Therefore, it is dangerous to heat even a small quantity of water in a sealed container because it can lead to a build-up of pressure that may cause the container to explode.