Actually, the "steam" you see in the bathroom isn't gas or vapor. Visible
"steam" is a mix of water vapor and microscopic droplets of liquid water.
You're seeing the liquid droplets, which can scatter light to your eyes.
Steam (water vapor) is invisible. A "standard" demonstration of this is to
observe the steam coming from the spout of a teakettle. Close to the spout,
no cloudiness is seen. The visible "steam" forms some distance away from the
spout, where the vapor has cooled enough to condense. Like teakettle
exhaust, fog and clouds are also mixes of air, invisible water vapor, and
microscopic water droplets. Not all vapors have odor (such as water), but
some do (such as perfume oils). Your nose's job is to detect some, but not
all, vaporized chemicals.
Vickie
-----Original Message-----
From: Tina Fanetti [mailto:FanettT@QUEST.WITCC.CC.IA.US]
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 1:32 PM
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
Subject: Re: Vapor?
See, I always thought vapor and gas were different.
I thought that a vapor was kinda liquidy and you could see it, like s=
team in a bathroom. Also that it had an odor to it.
A gas was something that followed the ideal gas law, but it filled up=
the space it was in and kinda floated. =20
Actually gas is that stuff you put in your car but that is a differen=
t story.
Tina
Tina Fanetti
Physics Instructor
Western Iowa Technical Community College
4647 Stone Ave
Sioux City IA 51102
712-274-8733 ext 1429
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