Why does a lot of water vapour come suddenly after the heat source of boiling water is removed?
I have noticed this several times. When I am boiling water, a few seconds before its boiling point, vapours are formed as usual. But if I turn the gas off before boiling, the moment it turns off, I see a lot of vapours being formed all of a sudden from the hot water for a second or two. Can anyone tell me why this happens?
thermodynamics everyday-life water heat-conduction
edited Dec 23 at 0:18
psitae
629525
asked Dec 21 at 7:34
user217702
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I have noticed this several times. When I am boiling water, a few seconds before its boiling point, vapours are formed as usual. But if I turn the gas off before boiling, the moment it turns off, I see a lot of vapours being formed all of a sudden from the hot water for a second or two. Can anyone tell me why this happens?
thermodynamics everyday-life water heat-conduction
edited Dec 23 at 0:18
psitae
629525
asked Dec 21 at 7:34
user217702
31424
New contributor
user217702 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
14
Possible duplicate of Why is there more steam after a pot of water *stops* boiling?, although the answers here are better.
– alex_d
Dec 21 at 12:42
add a comment |
I have noticed this several times. When I am boiling water, a few seconds before its boiling point, vapours are formed as usual. But if I turn the gas off before boiling, the moment it turns off, I see a lot of vapours being formed all of a sudden from the hot water for a second or two. Can anyone tell me why this happens?
thermodynamics everyday-life water heat-conduction
edited Dec 23 at 0:18
psitae
629525
asked Dec 21 at 7:34
user217702
31424
New contributor
user217702 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I have noticed this several times. When I am boiling water, a few seconds before its boiling point, vapours are formed as usual. But if I turn the gas off before boiling, the moment it turns off, I see a lot of vapours being formed all of a sudden from the hot water for a second or two. Can anyone tell me why this happens?
thermodynamics everyday-life water heat-conduction
thermodynamics everyday-life water heat-conduction
edited Dec 23 at 0:18
psitae
629525
asked Dec 21 at 7:34
user217702
31424
New contributor
user217702 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Dec 23 at 0:18
psitae
629525
asked Dec 21 at 7:34
user217702
31424
New contributor
user217702 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Dec 23 at 0:18
psitae
629525
edited Dec 23 at 0:18
psitae
629525
edited Dec 23 at 0:18
psitae
629525
629525
asked Dec 21 at 7:34
user217702
31424
New contributor
user217702 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 21 at 7:34
user217702
31424
asked Dec 21 at 7:34
user217702
31424
31424
New contributor
user217702 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
user217702 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
user217702 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
14
Possible duplicate of Why is there more steam after a pot of water *stops* boiling?, although the answers here are better.
– alex_d
Dec 21 at 12:42
add a comment |
14
Possible duplicate of Why is there more steam after a pot of water *stops* boiling?, although the answers here are better.
– alex_d
Dec 21 at 12:42
14
14
Possible duplicate of Why is there more steam after a pot of water *stops* boiling?, although the answers here are better.
– alex_d
Dec 21 at 12:42
Possible duplicate of Why is there more steam after a pot of water *stops* boiling?, although the answers here are better.
– alex_d
Dec 21 at 12:42
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
What you are seeing is not actually vapor - vapor is invisible. The mist seen above boiling water, commonly but inaccurately called vapor, is actually made of tiny droplets of liquid water, formed when the vapor cools down and condenses.
While the stove is on, the constant influx of vapor from the boiling water keeps the air above it hot, so condensation is minimal and there is little visible mist. When the gas is turned off, boiling stops, the air above the water cools down, and the vapor it contains suddenly condenses, creating a large plume of mist.
answered Dec 21 at 9:53
Aetol
1,201116
11
Great answer. I didn't even know what OP was talking about until you explained it. Kudos!
– user1717828
Dec 21 at 16:22
5
...and the hot combustion gases from the burner are also hiding the water vapor until the stove is off.
– elliot svensson
Dec 21 at 20:53
1
That's a great explanation. This also cleared my misconceptions about vapour. Thanks!
– user217702
Dec 22 at 6:09
@user217702 If you consider this to be the right answer you should mark it as such.
– Aaron Stevens
2 days ago
add a comment |
Without seeing your experiment we can only speculate, but my guess is that this is due to the convection currents generated by the combustion of the gas.
When the gas is burning there is a large volume of hot carbon dioxide and water vapour generated by the combustion, and this flows upwards and around the pan. This has two effects. Firstly it keeps the temperatures high around and above the pan, so it hinders condensation of the water vapour. Secondly the flow rapidly carries away and condensed water droplets that do form. As soon as you turn off the gas these two effects cease so there is more rapid formation of condensed water droplets.
You might be interested in reading Amount of Steam Generated using Gas burner and Induction cooker as I think this is related to your question.
answered Dec 21 at 8:24
John Rennie
271k42532781
1
I've also observed the described phenomenon on my stove which is electric and thus doesn't have an combusting gasses. This seems to imply that there is at least something else at play.
– W W
Dec 22 at 14:31
add a comment |
Hotter steam has a diffraction index closer to air than steam which is cooler. As the steam cools the droplets get larger, increasing the diffraction making it appear like there is more, when in fact there is less.
Put another way, hot steam scatters light less than cool steam.
answered Dec 21 at 17:13
Anthony Bachler
811
New contributor
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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3 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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What you are seeing is not actually vapor - vapor is invisible. The mist seen above boiling water, commonly but inaccurately called vapor, is actually made of tiny droplets of liquid water, formed when the vapor cools down and condenses.
While the stove is on, the constant influx of vapor from the boiling water keeps the air above it hot, so condensation is minimal and there is little visible mist. When the gas is turned off, boiling stops, the air above the water cools down, and the vapor it contains suddenly condenses, creating a large plume of mist.
answered Dec 21 at 9:53
Aetol
1,201116
11
Great answer. I didn't even know what OP was talking about until you explained it. Kudos!
– user1717828
Dec 21 at 16:22
5
...and the hot combustion gases from the burner are also hiding the water vapor until the stove is off.
– elliot svensson
Dec 21 at 20:53
1
That's a great explanation. This also cleared my misconceptions about vapour. Thanks!
– user217702
Dec 22 at 6:09
@user217702 If you consider this to be the right answer you should mark it as such.
– Aaron Stevens
2 days ago
add a comment |
What you are seeing is not actually vapor - vapor is invisible. The mist seen above boiling water, commonly but inaccurately called vapor, is actually made of tiny droplets of liquid water, formed when the vapor cools down and condenses.
While the stove is on, the constant influx of vapor from the boiling water keeps the air above it hot, so condensation is minimal and there is little visible mist. When the gas is turned off, boiling stops, the air above the water cools down, and the vapor it contains suddenly condenses, creating a large plume of mist.
answered Dec 21 at 9:53
Aetol
1,201116
11
Great answer. I didn't even know what OP was talking about until you explained it. Kudos!
– user1717828
Dec 21 at 16:22
5
...and the hot combustion gases from the burner are also hiding the water vapor until the stove is off.
– elliot svensson
Dec 21 at 20:53
1
That's a great explanation. This also cleared my misconceptions about vapour. Thanks!
– user217702
Dec 22 at 6:09
@user217702 If you consider this to be the right answer you should mark it as such.
– Aaron Stevens
2 days ago
add a comment |
What you are seeing is not actually vapor - vapor is invisible. The mist seen above boiling water, commonly but inaccurately called vapor, is actually made of tiny droplets of liquid water, formed when the vapor cools down and condenses.
While the stove is on, the constant influx of vapor from the boiling water keeps the air above it hot, so condensation is minimal and there is little visible mist. When the gas is turned off, boiling stops, the air above the water cools down, and the vapor it contains suddenly condenses, creating a large plume of mist.
answered Dec 21 at 9:53
Aetol
1,201116
What you are seeing is not actually vapor - vapor is invisible. The mist seen above boiling water, commonly but inaccurately called vapor, is actually made of tiny droplets of liquid water, formed when the vapor cools down and condenses.
While the stove is on, the constant influx of vapor from the boiling water keeps the air above it hot, so condensation is minimal and there is little visible mist. When the gas is turned off, boiling stops, the air above the water cools down, and the vapor it contains suddenly condenses, creating a large plume of mist.
answered Dec 21 at 9:53
Aetol
1,201116
edited Dec 21 at 10:59
answered Dec 21 at 9:53
Aetol
1,201116
answered Dec 21 at 9:53
Aetol
1,201116
answered Dec 21 at 9:53
Aetol
1,201116
1,201116
11
Great answer. I didn't even know what OP was talking about until you explained it. Kudos!
– user1717828
Dec 21 at 16:22
5
...and the hot combustion gases from the burner are also hiding the water vapor until the stove is off.
– elliot svensson
Dec 21 at 20:53
1
That's a great explanation. This also cleared my misconceptions about vapour. Thanks!
– user217702
Dec 22 at 6:09
@user217702 If you consider this to be the right answer you should mark it as such.
– Aaron Stevens
2 days ago
add a comment |
11
Great answer. I didn't even know what OP was talking about until you explained it. Kudos!
– user1717828
Dec 21 at 16:22
5
...and the hot combustion gases from the burner are also hiding the water vapor until the stove is off.
– elliot svensson
Dec 21 at 20:53
1
That's a great explanation. This also cleared my misconceptions about vapour. Thanks!
– user217702
Dec 22 at 6:09
@user217702 If you consider this to be the right answer you should mark it as such.
– Aaron Stevens
2 days ago
11
11
Great answer. I didn't even know what OP was talking about until you explained it. Kudos!
– user1717828
Dec 21 at 16:22
Great answer. I didn't even know what OP was talking about until you explained it. Kudos!
– user1717828
Dec 21 at 16:22
5
5
...and the hot combustion gases from the burner are also hiding the water vapor until the stove is off.
– elliot svensson
Dec 21 at 20:53
...and the hot combustion gases from the burner are also hiding the water vapor until the stove is off.
– elliot svensson
Dec 21 at 20:53
1
1
That's a great explanation. This also cleared my misconceptions about vapour. Thanks!
– user217702
Dec 22 at 6:09
That's a great explanation. This also cleared my misconceptions about vapour. Thanks!
– user217702
Dec 22 at 6:09
@user217702 If you consider this to be the right answer you should mark it as such.
– Aaron Stevens
2 days ago
@user217702 If you consider this to be the right answer you should mark it as such.
– Aaron Stevens
2 days ago
add a comment |
Without seeing your experiment we can only speculate, but my guess is that this is due to the convection currents generated by the combustion of the gas.
When the gas is burning there is a large volume of hot carbon dioxide and water vapour generated by the combustion, and this flows upwards and around the pan. This has two effects. Firstly it keeps the temperatures high around and above the pan, so it hinders condensation of the water vapour. Secondly the flow rapidly carries away and condensed water droplets that do form. As soon as you turn off the gas these two effects cease so there is more rapid formation of condensed water droplets.
You might be interested in reading Amount of Steam Generated using Gas burner and Induction cooker as I think this is related to your question.
answered Dec 21 at 8:24
John Rennie
271k42532781
1
I've also observed the described phenomenon on my stove which is electric and thus doesn't have an combusting gasses. This seems to imply that there is at least something else at play.
– W W
Dec 22 at 14:31
add a comment |
Without seeing your experiment we can only speculate, but my guess is that this is due to the convection currents generated by the combustion of the gas.
When the gas is burning there is a large volume of hot carbon dioxide and water vapour generated by the combustion, and this flows upwards and around the pan. This has two effects. Firstly it keeps the temperatures high around and above the pan, so it hinders condensation of the water vapour. Secondly the flow rapidly carries away and condensed water droplets that do form. As soon as you turn off the gas these two effects cease so there is more rapid formation of condensed water droplets.
You might be interested in reading Amount of Steam Generated using Gas burner and Induction cooker as I think this is related to your question.
answered Dec 21 at 8:24
John Rennie
271k42532781
1
I've also observed the described phenomenon on my stove which is electric and thus doesn't have an combusting gasses. This seems to imply that there is at least something else at play.
– W W
Dec 22 at 14:31
add a comment |
Without seeing your experiment we can only speculate, but my guess is that this is due to the convection currents generated by the combustion of the gas.
When the gas is burning there is a large volume of hot carbon dioxide and water vapour generated by the combustion, and this flows upwards and around the pan. This has two effects. Firstly it keeps the temperatures high around and above the pan, so it hinders condensation of the water vapour. Secondly the flow rapidly carries away and condensed water droplets that do form. As soon as you turn off the gas these two effects cease so there is more rapid formation of condensed water droplets.
You might be interested in reading Amount of Steam Generated using Gas burner and Induction cooker as I think this is related to your question.
answered Dec 21 at 8:24
John Rennie
271k42532781
Without seeing your experiment we can only speculate, but my guess is that this is due to the convection currents generated by the combustion of the gas.
When the gas is burning there is a large volume of hot carbon dioxide and water vapour generated by the combustion, and this flows upwards and around the pan. This has two effects. Firstly it keeps the temperatures high around and above the pan, so it hinders condensation of the water vapour. Secondly the flow rapidly carries away and condensed water droplets that do form. As soon as you turn off the gas these two effects cease so there is more rapid formation of condensed water droplets.
You might be interested in reading Amount of Steam Generated using Gas burner and Induction cooker as I think this is related to your question.
answered Dec 21 at 8:24
John Rennie
271k42532781
edited Dec 21 at 8:51
answered Dec 21 at 8:24
John Rennie
271k42532781
answered Dec 21 at 8:24
John Rennie
271k42532781
answered Dec 21 at 8:24
John Rennie
271k42532781
271k42532781
1
I've also observed the described phenomenon on my stove which is electric and thus doesn't have an combusting gasses. This seems to imply that there is at least something else at play.
– W W
Dec 22 at 14:31
add a comment |
1
I've also observed the described phenomenon on my stove which is electric and thus doesn't have an combusting gasses. This seems to imply that there is at least something else at play.
– W W
Dec 22 at 14:31
1
1
I've also observed the described phenomenon on my stove which is electric and thus doesn't have an combusting gasses. This seems to imply that there is at least something else at play.
– W W
Dec 22 at 14:31
I've also observed the described phenomenon on my stove which is electric and thus doesn't have an combusting gasses. This seems to imply that there is at least something else at play.
– W W
Dec 22 at 14:31
add a comment |
Hotter steam has a diffraction index closer to air than steam which is cooler. As the steam cools the droplets get larger, increasing the diffraction making it appear like there is more, when in fact there is less.
Put another way, hot steam scatters light less than cool steam.
answered Dec 21 at 17:13
Anthony Bachler
811
New contributor
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Hotter steam has a diffraction index closer to air than steam which is cooler. As the steam cools the droplets get larger, increasing the diffraction making it appear like there is more, when in fact there is less.
Put another way, hot steam scatters light less than cool steam.
answered Dec 21 at 17:13
Anthony Bachler
811
New contributor
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Hotter steam has a diffraction index closer to air than steam which is cooler. As the steam cools the droplets get larger, increasing the diffraction making it appear like there is more, when in fact there is less.
Put another way, hot steam scatters light less than cool steam.
answered Dec 21 at 17:13
Anthony Bachler
811
New contributor
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Hotter steam has a diffraction index closer to air than steam which is cooler. As the steam cools the droplets get larger, increasing the diffraction making it appear like there is more, when in fact there is less.
Put another way, hot steam scatters light less than cool steam.
answered Dec 21 at 17:13
Anthony Bachler
811
New contributor
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Dec 21 at 17:13
Anthony Bachler
811
New contributor
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Dec 21 at 17:13
Anthony Bachler
811
answered Dec 21 at 17:13
Anthony Bachler
811
811
New contributor
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Anthony Bachler is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
user217702 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user217702 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user217702 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user217702 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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14
Possible duplicate of Why is there more steam after a pot of water *stops* boiling?, although the answers here are better.
– alex_d
Dec 21 at 12:42