That smoke is not actually steam but rather vapor (though most people would claim it is steam). Steam is an invisible gas, unlike water vapor, which appears as a mist or fog.

Steam is defined as pure water vapor. Smoke is water vapor, a mix of gases, and soot of some sort.

One other difference between smoke and vapor is the presence of tar and carbon monoxide in smoke. Tar is a resin-like substance that tobacco produces after it gets combusted. The smell from campfire smoke will linger on your clothes for days, while the water vapor won’t leave a smell and will disappear rather quickly.

The main difference is that vapor is any substance in a gaseous state. To put it simply, a solid or liquid substance can change into gas, and that resulting gas is called a vapor. On the other hand, steam is a technical term for water vapor or water in a gaseous state.

Types of Steam

• Pressure-Temperature Relationship of Water & Steam.
• Saturated Steam (Dry)
• Unsaturated Steam (Wet)
• Superheated Steam.
• Supercritical Water.
• Various States of Water.

Steam uses gentle heat, does not burn or scorch food, and prevents foods from drying out. Steam-cooked foods retain more flavor, texture, and color. Less vitamins, minerals, and nutrients are lost compared to dry-heat cooking, which often means a decreased need to add salt or oil.

Water illustrates the three states of matter: solid (ice), gas (steam), and liquid (water).

The water is still nearby, but it’s now in a gaseous form called steam. This form of water is also called water vapor, and it’s very powerful stuff. This is because steam has a lot of energy. This is because as you continue to add more heat, more water molecules turn to vapor, and then you’re not heating them anymore!

If you keep heating the water up to 212 degrees, a lot of energy is required to convert the water to steam. This is latent heat, and it’s why steam has so much more power than compressed air.

Disadvantages: Steam engines are usually huge and heavy. Because of this, it is tough to transport them from one place to another. Steam engines have a lower efficiency as compared to other heat engines.

Steam leaks In addition to causing slipping hazards, steam leaks can lead to abnormally warm pipes and ambient temperatures, making the facility unsafe for workers. This problem is especially apparent in low-pressure steam systems where feedwater must be heated past the boiling point.

Steam causes more severe burns. Steam has more energy than boiling water. It possesses the additional latent heat of vaporization. So, when steam falls on skin and condenses to produce water it gives out 22.5 x 105 J/kg more heat than boiling water at the same temperature.

Steam is more likely to cause burn injuries than boiling water because of the latent heat of vaporization. Since water expands to approximately 1,600 times its volume when it turns from liquid to steam, steam often escapes its container under pressure.

Steam is used to fight fire, just not directly, and not always effectively. When water flashes to steam, it expands in volume by 1700 times. So water applied to a burning room expands to steam, filling the room and excluding oxygen. Steam is used to fight fire, just not directly, and not always effectively.

Oxidized hydrogen, AKA dihydrogen monoxide, AKA “water” in the form of water vapor (gaseous water). Water puts out fire by creating a barrier between the fuel source and the oxygen source (it also has a cooling effect which has to do with the energy required to convert liquid water into water vapor).

The water’s own uptake of heat, particularly when it evaporates, cools down the flames. The water that reaches the surface of the fuel also helps to cool down. The volume of the water increases dramatically as it turns into steam, displacing oxygen that would otherwise feed the flames.

A fire spreads by transferring heat energy in three ways: Radiation, Convection, and Conduction. Radiation refers to the emission of energy in rays or waves. Heat moves through space as energy waves. Most of the preheating of fuels ahead of a fire is by radiation of heat from the fire.

Radiation Examples

• ultraviolet light from the sun.
• heat from a stove burner.
• visible light from a candle.
• x-rays from an x-ray machine.
• alpha particles emitted from the radioactive decay of uranium.
• sound waves from your stereo.
• microwaves from a microwave oven.
• electromagnetic radiation from your cell phone.