Re: WHAT ARE THE BUBBLES IN BOILING WATER MADE OF?

Date: Wed Apr 29 13:47:35 1998
Posted By: Richard Stein, Professor of Chemistry, Natural Sciences, Germanna Community College
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 893837812.Ch

Message:


Jackie -

You asked what the bubbles in boiling water are made of, air and/or
water vapor.

Both, depending on how much air has been dissolved in the water which
is a function of temperature and pressure.  Boiling is the transistion
from liquid to vapor.  As the process occurs, the liquid is trying to
form a vapor - gases expand rapidly with temperature increases so
any air that is dissolved will also expand as does the water vapor to form
bubbles in the cooler liquid as they try to escape.

Rich

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