Explain a similarity and a difference between the particles in liquid water at 100c and the particles in steam at 100c

1 answer

A similarity between the particles in liquid water at 100°C and the particles in steam at 100°C is that they are both made up of water molecules. Water molecules consist of two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom, regardless of whether they are in a liquid or gaseous state.

A difference between the particles in liquid water at 100°C and the particles in steam at 100°C is their arrangement and energy level. In liquid water, the water molecules are closely packed and have higher intermolecular forces, resulting in a relatively fixed, organized structure. The particles in steam, on the other hand, have higher kinetic energy and are much more spread out. The water molecules in steam move freely and rapidly, with weaker intermolecular forces allowing them to be more dissociated and less structured compared to liquid water.