MP Board · Class 9 · Science · Matter in Our SurroundingsWhy does steam at 100 °C cause more severe burns than boiling water at the same temperature?

Steam at 100 °C causes more severe burns than boiling water at 100 °C because steam possesses additional heat energy called the latent heat of vaporization. When steam comes in contact with skin, it condenses and releases this extra absorbed latent heat energy onto the skin, causing significantly deeper and more painful burns.