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[deleted] t1_j5wmz6o wrote

Reply to comment by BuffaloBoyHowdy in How hot is the steam coming out of nuclear power plants? by ivy-claw

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TrappedInASkinnerBox t1_j5wy37c wrote

On the engineering side at least the gaseous phase is definitely referred to as "steam" not "water vapor"

Saturated steam, superheated steam, etc

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mightyn0mad t1_j5x4ezm wrote

Seconded. Steam is steam, we do not call it water vapour. Depending on conditions it can be saturated steam (the one that looks white) or superheated steam (the colourless one)

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Angdrambor t1_j5wob3l wrote

>Steam is droplets of liquid water suspended in the air which appears white due to light scattering.
>
>Vapor is colorless and transparent. You cannot see it.

When I took thermo in my country, we refered to it the other way around. Steam is the invisible gas phase, "vapor" is the white cloud of liquid droplets.

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lichlord t1_j5wrrfh wrote

Was it thermo taught by scientists or engineers?

Thermo in chemistry and physics usually simplifies steam into gaseous water.

In engineering thermo courses the focus is less in phases and equations of state, and more on work and transformations. Engineering thermo will often distinguish between wet, dry, and superheated steam.

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CYWNightmare t1_j5x2odw wrote

I thought rainbows were water vapour with light hitting it so wouldn't I see water vapour to an extent?

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