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).

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).

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.