I have a pot of vigorously boiling water on a gas stove. There's some steam, but not alot. When I turn off the gas, the boiling immediately subsides, and a huge waft of steam comes out. This is followed by a steady output of steam that's greater than the amount of steam it was producing while it was actually boiling.
Why is there more steam after boiling than during boiling? Also, what's with the burst of steam when it stops boiling?
Best Answer
I have read that true steam is clear (transparent) water vapor. According to this theory, the white "steam" you see is really a small cloud of condensed water vapor droplets, a fine mist in effect. So what you are seeing is not more steam, but more condensation and more mist. The speed with which the steam/vapor/mist rises and disperses may also change.