Which of the following best explains a person suffers more severe burns when his skin is exposed to steam than when boiling water is poured onto his skin?

Which of the following best explains a person suffers more severe burns when his skin is exposed to steam than when boiling water is poured onto his skin?

Answer Details

The best explanation for why a person suffers more severe burns when exposed to steam than boiling water is that steam possesses greater heat energy per unit-mass than boiling water. This means that when steam comes into contact with the skin, it transfers more heat energy to the skin than boiling water would at the same temperature. Additionally, steam can also spread and penetrate more easily over a wider area of the skin, causing more extensive and severe burns.