Would the boiling point of water be higher or lower on the top of a mountain peak? How would the boiling point be affected in a pressurized boiler system?

Question

Noah Aldrich · Accepted Answer

Well, of course the boiling point would be lower..........

The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the ambient pressure, and bubbles of vapour form directly in the liquid. The #"normal boiling point"# is specified when the ambient pressure is #"1 atmosphere"#. So, if the ambient pressure is reduced, the boiling point of a liquid should also be reduced. This is the principle behind vacuum distillation, when an otherwise involatile liquid is distilled under (greatly) reduced pressure. The boiling point of water in Denver, Colorado, is #90# #""^@C#. Why so? How do you think the boiling point of water would change if, on the other hand, you were to increase the ambient pressure in a pressure cooker?

Caleb Adams · Answer

undefined The boiling point of water would be lower on the top of a mountain peak due to the lower atmospheric pressure. In a pressurized boiler system, the boiling point of water would be higher because the increased pressure raises the boiling point of the water.