Science fact confession time

[Galant]

I just learned that water will boil at different temperatures depending upon altitude.

Can't say I'd ever considered the question before, but when faced with it, I got it wrong.

I'd explain why but maybe someone else out there might enjoy figuring it out if they also weren't already aware.

Is this something you're already aware of, or had you never considered it and if so, do you think you could have figured it out or not?



I came across the question on this quiz - http://www.pewresearch.org/quiz/science-knowledge/
It's the question most people got wrong - getting most of those wrong seems like a bit of an indictment of the US education system.

If you want the answer this follow up article provides it.

[kalniel]

Yes already aware. But given my day job is science, probably not that surprising

[Ferral]

At a rough uneducated guess it will have something to do with the Oxygen component of water. Higher altitude oxygen is purer and a lot more dense which in turn would change the water and make it boil at a higher temperature maybe?

[Galant]

At a rough uneducated guess it will have something to do with the Oxygen component of water. Higher altitude oxygen is purer and a lot more dense which in turn would change the water and make it boil at a higher temperature maybe?

Now knowing the answer I can safely say you're wrong. I won't give it away though, just in case someone else wants to guess it.

Maybe we should ask that those who already know the answer please don't give it away?

[Galant]

Incidentally, I came across the question on this quiz - http://www.pewresearch.org/quiz/science-knowledge/

And if you want the answer this follow up article provides it.

[b0redom]

Already knew that. I'm pretty impressed how many people knew the inventor of the polio vaccine. I didn't, but deduced it by process of elimination.

[Galant]

Already knew that. I'm pretty impressed how many people knew the inventor of the polio vaccine. I didn't, but deduced it by process of elimination.

Same here.

[DanceswithUnix]

Knew it, but to be fair I think that was A level Chemistry, possible Physics, maybe even both, but I don't think it was part of basic science education. Will have seen it in Engineering Thermodynamics as well which again is a reasonably rare study.

[b0redom]

I didn't do any chemistry or biology beyond pre-GCSE, so I'm guessing it's physics. I remember thinking at the time that it must be possible to put your hand in boiling water at a certain altitude, and it certainly wouldn't be safe to boil water for purification purposes.

[kalniel]

I didn't do any chemistry or biology beyond pre-GCSE, so I'm guessing it's physics. I remember thinking at the time that it must be possible to put your hand in boiling water at a certain altitude, and it certainly wouldn't be safe to boil water for purification purposes.

Yes pretty sure it's GSCE/O level physics (probably before, these days). And yep.

[Gerrard]

Already knew that. I'm pretty impressed how many people knew the inventor of the polio vaccine. I didn't, but deduced it by process of elimination.

Same here; I found it the most difficult question out of the lot.

I believe the water boiling temperature is due to pressure which is lower the higher you go. I remember following it when I was learning about it, but can't remember the process itself.

If you can put you hand in boiling water because it is at a safe temperature (eg 37°C), then you have bigger problems as it will be boiling in you as well!

[Jayfunk]

water will boil when it should freeze.
when? almost always Bar none

[stevie lee]

this question was on QI in an early series.

before that was broadcast, i'd never given it any thought. didn't apply to me so didn't care one jot. not given it much thought since either, its just one of those things that if someone mentions it some sparks happen in my brain and I suddenly remember what they're banging on about.


as for that quiz. got 11/12 got the cavity graph thing wrong. The guess the polio question, I guessed the answer mainly because I hadn't a clue and also I was wondering why that person was on the list. no idea what the other 3 have particularly done that's sciency, I just know they didn't do the vaccine thing.

[Butcher]

I didn't do any chemistry or biology beyond pre-GCSE, so I'm guessing it's physics. I remember thinking at the time that it must be possible to put your hand in boiling water at a certain altitude, and it certainly wouldn't be safe to boil water for purification purposes.

In theory at around 13,000 metres water will be cool enough when boiling (~50C) to put your hand in, however the transferred heat would induce boiling in the water in your skin which would cause severe cell damage resulting in a burn.

[Galant]

Makes me think of GCSE science classes where water boiling at 100c was taken as a constant, and pretty much taught as such. I get that some things might be too much for most GCSE students to grasp, but would it have been too much to at least mention that the boiling point can change but that for most of us it'll be at 100c? The students who couldn't grasp it can just fall back on the 100c idea whereas those who could would be able to think it through and actually learn a little something else.

[DanceswithUnix]

Our teachers used to hammer home "Standard temperature and pressure" in a lot of science work.

Practical problem from this: It doesn't require 100C to boil water, but it does require close to that to make tea. If you want tea up a high mountain, take a pressure cooker