Why does it take so long to boil water in a kettle?

Answer 1

Water has a very high " specific heat ". Specific heat is a measurement of how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of a substance.
Here is a table of a few specific heats:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/tables/sphtt.html

If you notice, water is much higher than anything else on that list.
For comparison, it would take you 5 times more energy to increase the temperature of water by 1 degree than it would take to increase the temperature of solid granite by 1 degree.

Water has some very strange properties, but because it is so common, we think nothing of it!

Answer 2

it wouldn't take so long if you did it on top of a mountin, lol there again it would boil at about 30 degress celcus, the boiling point of water is only 100deg at sea level, boiling ocuars when the water can no longer get any hotter, ie when the vapour pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure, if you provide enough pressure then you can basically heat water to above 500c they do it in PWR's if you live in an area of high altuertude where the atmospheric pressure is not very great then you can't boil water at such a high pressure, if you live below sea level you can boil water above 100c, if you do this in a closed contaioner the then boiling point happens when you have the same number of molicules evaperating as you do condesing (a convection current)

but you proberly should just get a new kettle, or if all else fails try your local volacano

Answer 3

Hi,

I think your kettle is broken, better get a new one. Or a new stove. Oh, wait a second, it's the water. It's too cold. Get some hotter water first.

Hope that helps,
Matt

Answer 4

Compared to what? It takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature of that water. I hope you're boiling no more than is necessary, and that you're using up the world's energy supply for a good reason.

Answer 5

Stop watching it. It will boil much quicker.