Which of the following reasons explains why a steam burn is more severe than a hot water burn?

Question

Steam can penetrate the skin.
Steam contains more energy than water.
Water evaporates and leaves the surface faster and helps in cooling.
Burns caused by liquids are always milder.

Answer 1

The reason that explains why a steam burn is more severe than a hot water burn is:

Steam contains more energy than water.

This is because steam is water in its gaseous state, and it has a higher energy content due to the latent heat of vaporization. When steam comes into contact with skin, it condenses into water, releasing a significant amount of heat, which increases the severity of the burn compared to hot water alone.