Determination of Boiling Point of Water by Distillation Method (CAT#: STEM-PPA-0148-YJL)

Introduction

The boiling point of water is 100 °C or 212 °F at 1 atmosphere of pressure (sea level).<br /><br />However, the value is not a constant. The boiling point of water depends on the atmospheric pressure, which changes according to elevation. Water boils at a lower temperature as you gain altitude (e.g., going higher on a mountain), and boils at a higher temperature if you increase atmospheric pressure (coming back down to sea level or going below it).<br /><br />The boiling point of water also depends on the purity of the water. Water that contains impurities (such as salted water) boils at a higher temperature than pure water. This phenomenon is called boiling point elevation, which is one of the colligative properties of matter.