Why do steam burns cause more severe skin damage than water burns?

[billybobay]

Homework Statement

Explain why skin burns caused by 100 degree C steam are more severe than those caused by 100 degree C water.

Homework Equations

100 degree C water
skin 20 degrees C
4.2 J/g so 200 J

100 degree C steam
2254 J into your arm
vaporize water in cells of your arm

The Attempt at a Solution

the information in 2. or is there anything else that would be good to add?

 

[Astronuc]

One wants to explicitly compare the specific enthalphy (J/g) of the steam and water.

 

[LawrenceC]

Besides the latent heat that 100 C steam has, the energy has to get into your skin to damage it. In this context heat gets in primarily from convection. Take a look at film coefficients for condensing steam versus film coefficients for still water.