---
title: "A student observes that contact with \\(1.0\\text{ g}\\) of steam (\\(\\text{H}_2\\text{O}(g)\\)) at \\(100^\\circ\\text{C}\\) causes a significantly more severe thermal burn to the skin than contact with \\(1.0\\text{ g}\\) of boiling water (\\(\\text{H}_2\\text{O}(l)\\)) at \\(100^\\circ\\text{C}\\). Which of the following statements best explains why more thermal energy is transferred to the skin from the steam than from the liquid water?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123750/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T12:29:16+00:00"
---

# A student observes that contact with \(1.0\text{ g}\) of steam (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}(g)\)) at \(100^\circ\text{C}\) causes a significantly more severe thermal burn to the skin than contact with \(1.0\text{ g}\) of boiling water (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}(l)\)) at \(100^\circ\text{C}\). Which of the following statements best explains why more thermal energy is transferred to the skin from the steam than from the liquid water?

A student observes that contact with \(1.0\text{ g}\) of steam (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}(g)\)) at \(100^\circ\text{C}\) causes a significantly more severe thermal burn to the skin than contact with \(1.0\text{ g}\) of boiling water (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}(l)\)) at \(100^\circ\text{C}\). Which of the following statements best explains why more thermal energy is transferred to the skin from the steam than from the liquid water?

- **A.** Condensation is an endothermic process because intermolecular forces between \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) molecules are broken, absorbing energy that is subsequently directed into the skin.
- **B.** Condensation is an endothermic process because covalent \(\text{O}-\text{H}\) bonds within \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) molecules are formed, increasing the total thermal energy of the system.
- **C.** Condensation is an exothermic process because intramolecular \(\text{O}-\text{H}\) covalent bonds are formed, releasing chemical energy directly to the skin.
- **D.** Condensation is an exothermic process because intermolecular attractions between \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) molecules are established, releasing the enthalpy of condensation to the skin before the liquid water cools.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123750/*