When considering water at 100°C, whether in its liquid form or as steam, several similarities and differences can be highlighted:
Similarities:
- Molecular Composition: Both liquid water (at 100°C) and steam (water vapor) consist of H₂O molecules.
- Thermodynamic Properties: Both states are related to temperature and pressure, and they can coexist at 100°C under 1 atm pressure (the boiling point of water).
- Energy: Both forms possess energy; however, liquid water has a higher density compared to steam, which contains latent heat energy.
Differences:
- Physical State: Water at 100°C is in a liquid state, while steam at the same temperature is in a gaseous state.
- Density: Liquid water is much denser than steam. At 100°C, the density of liquid water is about 0.958 g/cm³, whereas steam is much less dense.
- Molecular Arrangement: In liquid water, molecules are closely packed and have intermolecular forces keeping them together, while in steam, the molecules are far apart and move freely.
- Heat Capacity: Liquid water has a higher specific heat capacity than steam. This means liquid water can absorb more heat before its temperature rises compared to steam.
- Behavior under Pressure: At atmospheric pressure, water boils at 100°C, but steam can exist at different pressures without changing its temperature until it condenses back to a liquid.
Conclusion:
While both forms of water share the same molecular structure and can exist at the same temperature, their physical properties and behavior differ significantly due to their states.