What Happens to Water in a Sealed, Heat-Resistant Container?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of water in a sealed, heat-resistant container when subjected to increasing heat. Participants explore theoretical scenarios regarding phase changes, pressure effects, and safety concerns related to heating water in closed environments.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the behavior of water in a closed environment, particularly regarding temperature and phase changes under heat.
  • Another participant asserts that there is no such thing as an explosive-proof container and explains that water will follow its phase diagram, transitioning to a state where liquid and gas phases are indistinguishable once the critical point is reached.
  • A participant emphasizes the dangers of heating distilled water in a microwave, noting that it can become superheated and lead to hazardous situations when impurities are introduced.
  • Some participants reference the behavior of water on Jupiter, suggesting that it exhibits similar phase characteristics under extreme conditions.
  • Links to external resources, including videos and articles, are shared to illustrate the risks and phenomena associated with heating water in closed systems.
  • Discussion includes anecdotal references to the operational pressures of Navy boilers, highlighting the differences in safety and performance in industrial contexts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility and safety of heating water in sealed containers. While some agree on the theoretical implications of phase changes, there is no consensus on the practical aspects or safety of such experiments.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention limitations regarding the assumptions of container integrity and the definitions of "explosive-proof." There are unresolved questions about the exact conditions under which water transitions between phases and the implications of superheating.

Zenparticle
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My family and I were having a discussion about what would happen to water if it was inside a closed environment, such as an explosive proof container and had increasing heat applied to it what would the water do? If the container was one that could stand the heated up molecules inside it without ever bursting would the water and or water vapor reach higher and higher temperatures? Thanks.
 
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Do not attempt this experiment! - THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN EXPLOSIVE PROOF CONTAINER! Water, when heated in a closed container (ie, a boiler) will act according to its' phase diagram: http://www.cbu.edu/~mcondren/water-phase-diagram.jpg

As it heats, the pressure increases and once it passes the critical point, there is no distinction between liquid and gas.
 
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Russ: Holy wow! That's neat.
 
russ_watters said:
Do not attempt this experiment! - THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN EXPLOSIVE PROOF CONTAINER! Water, when heated in a closed container (ie, a boiler) will act according to its' phase diagram: http://www.cbu.edu/~mcondren/water-phase-diagram.jpg

As it heats, the pressure increases and once it passes the critical point, there is no distinction between liquid and gas.

Goodness no, I was in no way going to try this! No one in my family is that balls out, but thank you for the warning. I was thinking in theoretical terms, like how hot you could get water in a contained space before it just turns to something else or something along those lines...
 
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NEVER HEAT DISTILLED WATER IN A MICROWAVE

Tap water boils because it has impurities.

Distilled water does not visibly boil making it possible for it to become superheated.

If distilled water is allowed to become super heated and then some impurity such as sugar of coffee is added things get nasty.

 
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Brilliant! said:
Russ: Holy wow! That's neat.
Note that this situation exists in the planet Jupiter. At the top of the atmosphere, it is a gaseous planet. As you go further down, it behaves more like a liquid, but there is no specific transition.
 
Another Mythbusters reason not to try this experiment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JmJoyuUJj2Q&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JmJoyuUJj2Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
 
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OmCheeto said:
Another Mythbusters reason not to try this experiment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JmJoyuUJj2Q&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JmJoyuUJj2Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

That's sooooo awesome! WOW!
 
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lisab said:
That's sooooo awesome! WOW!

Science can be deadly.

...

Btw, that's a clue. :wink:
 
  • #10
And failure at only 330 psi, too - Navy boilers operate at 1200 psi!
 

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