The key difference between smoke and steam is that smoke is a collection of airborne solids, liquids, and gases emitted when a substance is undergoing combustion, whereas steam is heated water vapor that has reached the gaseous phase of water.
Smoke and steam are two types of gaseous phases of materials. They have different sources as well as different compositions.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Smoke
3. What is Steam
4. Smoke vs Steam in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Smoke vs Steam
What is Smoke?
Smoke can be defined as a collection of airborne particulates and gases that are emitted upon combustion or pyrolysis of a material, together with the quantity of air that entrains or mixed into the mass. Generally, smoke is an unwanted byproduct of fire. It can be produced from stoves, candles, internal combustion engines, oil lamps, and fireplaces. However, it is also used in pest controlling (as fumigation), communication (as smoke signals), cooking, smoking (tobacco), etc. Furthermore, smoke is used in rituals in the form of incense, sage, or resin, which are burned to get a pleasant smell for spiritual or magical purposes. Smoke can also act as a flavoring agent or preservative.
In general, smoke’s chemical composition depends on the composition of the material that is burnt. In fact, the conditions of combustion can alter the composition. For example, ash is produced from fires made in the presence of a high oxygen content at a high temperature where a small amount of smoke is produced. If the temperature difference is large, it can also produce an aerosol of water. Moreover, high temperatures can cause the production of oxides of nitrogen (NOs), sulfur dioxide if the burning material contains sulfur, and incomplete combustion can give hydrogen sulfide.
The completely oxidized forms of carbon and hydrogen in smoke are carbon dioxide and water. However, if there is not enough oxygen when the material is burning, it can produce carbon monoxide. If the material contains nitrogen, it can produce hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and nitrogen oxides. Furthermore, instead of water, it can give hydrogen gas as the byproduct.
What is Steam?
Steam can be defined as a material composed of water in the gas phase. Sometimes, it contains an aerosol of liquid water droplets of air. Steam may form due to the evaporation of liquid water upon boiling. During the process of boiling, heat is applied until the water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is usually invisible. But wet steam that we call mist or aerosol of water droplets is visible.
When water converts from liquid to steam at standard temperature and pressure, the volume of water increases by 1,700 times. This change in volume is then converted into mechanical work through steam engines such as reciprocating piston-type engines and steam turbines.
Traditionally, steam is formed from heating a boiler by burning coal and other fuels. But it can form from solar energy as well. Wet steam is water vapor with water droplets. When we heat wet steam further, these water droplets tend to evaporate to obtain a vapor-liquid equilibrium. On the other hand, superheated steam can be defined as steam that occurs at a higher temperature.
What is the Difference Between Smoke and Steam?
The key difference between smoke and steam is that smoke is a collection of airborne solids, liquids, and gases emitted when a substance is undergoing combustion, whereas steam is heated water vapor that has reached the gaseous phase of water.
The below infographic presents the differences between smoke and steam in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Smoke vs Steam
Smoke is a collection of airborne particulates and gases that are emitted upon combustion or pyrolysis of a material together with the quantity of air that entrains or mixed into the mass. Steam, on the other hand, is a material composed of water in the gas phase. The key difference between smoke and steam is that smoke is a collection of airborne solids, liquids, and gases emitted when a substance is undergoing combustion, whereas steam is heated water vapor that has reached the gaseous phase of water.
Reference:
1. “Steam.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Colorado-fire-sky-clouds-smoke” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Kitchen-cook-pots-cooking-pot” (CC0) via Pixabay