Can you tell by looking at this plume from this factory whether it is
releasing smoke or steam? Both smoke and steam can appear as clouds of
vapor. Here's a closer look at what steam and smoke are and the
difference between them.
Steam
Steam is pure water vapor,
produced by boiling water. Sometimes water is boiled with other liquids,
so there are other vapors with the water. Ordinarily, steam is
completely colorless. As steam cools and condenses it becomes visible as
water vapor and can produce a white cloud. This cloud is just like a
natural cloud in the sky. It is odorless and tasteless. Because the
humidity is very high, the cloud may leave water droplets on solids that
touch it.
Smoke
Smoke consists of gases and soot. The gases typically
include water vapor, but smoke differs from steam in that there are
other gases, such carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides, plus there are small
particles. The type of particles depend on the source of the smoke, but
usually you can smell or taste either the soot or some of the gases
from smoke. Smoke may be white, but more commonly it is colored by its
particles.
How to Tell Smoke and Steam Apart
Color and odor are two ways to
distinguish smoke and steam. Another way to tell smoke and steam apart
is by how quickly they dissipate. Water vapor dissipates rapidly,
particularly if the relative humidity is low. Smoke hangs in the air,
since the ash or other small particles are suspended.
Can you tell by looking at this plume from this factory whether it is
releasing smoke or steam? Both smoke and steam can appear as clouds of
vapor. Here's a closer look at what steam and smoke are and the
difference between them.
Comments
Post a Comment