If water boils at 100°C, and boiling is the process of turning liquid into gas, why are bathrooms full of steam when showering at only 40°C?

Question

If water boils at 100°C, and boiling is the process of turning liquid into gas, why are bathrooms full of steam when showering at only 40°C?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Because it’s not “steam”.

People use the word “steam” to mean two very different things:

1. The invisible gas that comes out of a boiling kettle, water in its gaseous form at 100ºC or higher. (Actual steam)
2. Water vapour visibly condensing from gas to tiny droplets when its temperature drops.

Bathrooms are not full of “steam” (1), you are seeing water vapour condensing (2). You can see it at lower temperatures, like when you breathe out on a cold morning.