– Why does putting the top on a pot of boiling pasta make it frothy and boil over?

Question

– Why does putting the top on a pot of boiling pasta make it frothy and boil over?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

With the lid on the vapor pressure of water in the limited atmosphere reaches its saturation point. Evaporation is now in approximate equilibrium with condensation. Without efficient evaporation there is no easy way for the system to shed heat from the burner. Water skyrockets toward maximum heat capacitance.