“Steam is a gas.”
Usage Entry 1297 / 1350 60-second read
Gas vs. Vapor
Matter in the gaseous state versus the gaseous form of a substance usually liquid at room temperature.
The comparisoni
“Steam is a vapor — the gaseous form of water, which is liquid at room temperature. Air (N2, O2) is gas.”
The ruleii
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GAS = native state. VAPOR = evaporated.
GAS is matter in the gaseous state — could be the substance's natural state at room temp (nitrogen, oxygen, helium). VAPOR is the gaseous form of a substance that is normally a liquid or solid at room temperature (water vapor, mercury vapor). All vapors are gases; not all gases are vapors.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Gas = naturally. Vapor = evaporated.