At what temperature does saltwater come to a boil? At what temperature does freshwater come to a boil?

Question

Serious answers please. Helping my neice with Science homework and it doesn't work on digital thermometers, all I have here! Help please.

Answer 1

Both answers depend on the air pressure at the time you are measuring the boiling point. And in the case of salt water, it depends on the concentration of salt!

But at standard atmospheric pressure, fresh water (distilled water) boils at 100°C, or 212°F.

Salt water will boil at a higher temperature due to the salts added, according to Raoult's Law. The average seawater at standard atmospheric pressure would boil at about 103°C = 217°F.

Answer 2

You can look this stuff up at Wikipedia.com.

You don't say, one assumes you mean OCEAN water, because salt content and other impurities do change the boiling point.

Also, one assumes you mean at standard atmospheric pressure (sea level), and not on top of Pikes Peak, CO.

Now, if this homework is supposed to be performed rather than looked up, then someone needs an actual thermometer. Altitude above sea level changes the boiling points significantly. For example, at 3000 feet altitude, barometric pressure drops and the boiling point of freshwater is only 201 degrees F. A mile high on top of a mountain, the boiling point would drop to 195 F.

Freshwater, without consideration for where it came from, is reported to boil at 100 degrees Celcius, or 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Surprisingly, Ocean saltwater, with its myriad mineral and organics, along with a 3.1 to 3.7 % salinity actually has been reported to boil in a range from 99.97 degrees Celcius, or 212 F all the way up to 103 C or 217 F. The lower end of this range is contrary to what I would have expected, since salt is often added to boiling veggies to raise the boiling point and improve the cooking process.

Answer 3

Fresh water at sea level will boil at 212 deg F.

Answer 4

Fresh water boils @ 212 deg F, not sure about salt water

Answer 5

Doesn't the school provide a science textbook??