I have heard people tell me this. Cold water boils faster than hot water. Is this an urban legend? Does water really reach its boiling point faster when started at a colder temperature?
2006-11-01 02:48:41 · 4 answers · asked by mtce007 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Heat = mass x specific heat of material x change of temperature.
Specific heat of water is 1. So the amount of heat needed to be added is the mass of the water x the amount of change needed to get to boiling. So cold water does not boil faster.
salt will cause it to take longer.
People think that tea tastes betterr if you start with cold water, which holds more oxygen. As you heat the water, the oxygen comes out. This may look like boiling.
2006-11-01 03:53:57 · answer #1 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A couple of points:
1. Adding salt to water actually increases its boiling point. You may get more bubbles evident from the ebulition nuclei (bits of salt), but it really does not make the water boil any faster.
2. Some say that water that has been boiled will freeze more quickly than tap water - this is said to be due to the lack of invisible air buggles in the boiled water, as air is a good heat insulator and slows down the freezing process.
2006-11-01 10:55:48 · answer #2 · answered by JJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i've heard that too, but i have no idea... i use hot water and when the little bubbles form around the bottom, i put some salt in the water, it makes the water come to a boil faster
2006-11-01 10:51:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
no, hot water will boil sooner than cold water BUT hot water does freeze faster than cold water for some reason!! that one really is true, and water will boil quicker and hotter if you add salt to it too!!
2006-11-01 10:51:37 · answer #4 · answered by berrycbtrfly 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋