What produces more severe burns, boiling water or steam?

Steam produces more severe burns than boiling water. This is because steam contains significantly more energy than boiling water at the same temperature.

Boiling water is at 100°C (212°F), and possesses a certain amount of thermal energy. However, when water transitions from the liquid phase (boiling water) to the gaseous phase (steam), it absorbs a substantial amount of energy known as the latent heat of vaporization. This latent heat is the energy required to overcome the intermolecular forces holding the water molecules together in the liquid state.

When steam comes into contact with skin, this latent heat of vaporization is released as it condenses back into liquid water. This large amount of energy transfer to the skin causes a much more severe burn than the energy transfer from boiling water alone. In other words, the steam not only transfers its heat from being 100°C but also releases the additional energy absorbed during vaporization.

Therefore, while both boiling water and steam are dangerous and can cause serious burns, the additional energy contained within steam makes it capable of producing far more severe injuries.