Question

How does the boiling point of water change if there is an increase in altitude?

Answer 1

The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid that equals the pressure surrounding of the liquid so that the liquid changes into a vapour and this is called the boiling point. As we know that the water boils at $100^\circ C$ . The temperature is an indirect measure of the kinetic energy. Therefore, the kinetic energy should be less for water to boil at less temperature.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Water boils at lower temperatures at higher elevations. Since the pressure of air at higher elevations is less. When there is lower air pressure it puts less pressure on the surface of the water, which makes it easier for the water to boil.

The water boils when the kinetic energy of the water molecules creates the pressure that equals or greater than the air pressure. The temperature is an indirect measure of the kinetic energy. So, the kinetic energy should be less for water to boil at less temperature. So, there will be less air pressure on water and it needs less energy for the water to boil.

Therefore, as altitude increases and the pressure of air decreases, the temperature of the boiling point also decreases.

Note: The most significant changes that occur at the high-altitude areas is about the cooking of food. As the altitude increases, the pressure of the atmosphere gets pushed down on water decreases, which allows the boiling of water even at lower temperatures. So, the lowering of boiling point means that the food cooks at a lower temperature, that means the boiling of water. It is important to know as the altitude increases how much temperature is reduced while boiling water.