Human Vaporization: Temperature to Vaporize Human Body

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SUMMARY

The vaporization of a human body is a complex process that cannot be defined by a single temperature due to the involvement of multiple substances and irreversible chemical reactions. Unlike first order phase transitions, which have a specific temperature, the human body contains various components that vaporize at different temperatures, leading to a continuous range of vaporization. As the body heats, proteins denature and organics oxidize, complicating the process further. The outcome, similar to cremation, results in variable ashes, indicating that the vaporization of a human body lacks a clear definition.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of phase transitions, particularly first order and non-first order transitions.
  • Knowledge of chemical reactions and their irreversibility in biological systems.
  • Familiarity with the vaporization process and vaporization pressures of various substances.
  • Basic principles of thermodynamics as they relate to temperature and phase changes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of first order phase transitions and their characteristics.
  • Study the chemical processes involved in protein denaturation and organic oxidation.
  • Explore the thermodynamic properties of vaporization pressures for different biological components.
  • Investigate the cremation process and the chemical composition of resulting ashes.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for chemists, biologists, forensic scientists, and anyone interested in the thermodynamics of biological systems and the complexities of human decomposition processes.

GrayBush
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At what temperature would a human body vaporize?
 
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GrayBush said:
At what temperature would a human body vaporize?

The vaporization of a human body is not a first order phase transition. Therefore, there can not be a unique number corresponding to this process.
The vaporization of the human body would include many components and many irreversible processes. Therefore, it could not even be characterized as a reversible process.
A first order phase transition has a well defined temperature. For example, the vaporization of liquid water at atmospheric pressure is very close to the triple point of water (100° C). However, even this isn't too sharp in real life since the system.
In a human body, there would be several substances each with a different vaporization pressure mixed together in solution. Each would vaporize at a temperature that is slightly shifted from their neat vaporization pressure. As each substance vaporizes, the vaporization temperature of each component will shift continuously. Therefore, there will be a sliding ramp of vaporizations. Thus, it couldn't possibly be characterized as a first order phase transition.
Chemical reactions would occur as the body heats. Protein would denature, for instance. Some organics will oxidize, both because of ambient oxygen and because of oxidizers in the cell. Most of these chemical reactions would effectively be irreversible. Therefore, this would not be a very clear phase transition at all.
Consider the cremation of a human body. Usually what is left is ashes. However, the chemical composition of those ashes will vary with the details of the cremation. Therefore, the vaporization of the ashes couldn't be well defined.
The question that you asked is not well posed. Maybe you want to restate your question.
 

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