What is the difference between boiling water over a flame versus using a microwave.?

Question

When boiling water using an electric stove or gas stove, what is this difference compared to boiling water using a microwave oven? Is the heating effect the same on the molecular structure?

Answer 1

Exactly the same. Molecular change is a chemical reaction and is not caused by heating water by any method.

Answer 2

Yes. Your just using a different form of energy.

The Universe is made up of matter and energy. Matter is made up of atoms and molecules (groupings of atoms) and energy causes the atoms and molecules to always be in motion - either bumping into each other or vibrating back and forth. The motion of atoms and molecules creates a form of energy called heat or thermal energy which is present in all matter. Even in the coldest voids of space, matter still has a very small but still measurable amount of heat energy.

Energy can take on many forms and can change from one form to another. Many different types of energy can be converted into heat energy. Light, electrical, mechanical, chemical, nuclear, sound and thermal energy itself can each cause a substance to heat up by increasing the speed of its molecules. So, put energy into a system and it heats up, take energy away and it cools. For example, when we are cold, we can jump up and down to get warmer.

Answer 3

there is no difference in the effect. only,the medium of heating is different. since water always boils at the same temp, the time taken for both may be different. but there's no other diff.

Answer 4

i dont know but i think in using flames it will be introducing heat from the outside while in a microwave it will be like heating it from the inside

Answer 5

the only real difference, is that may taste in your water something youve previously cooked
(popcorn, soup, nachos, etc.)