✗ The myth everyone repeats
Water always boils at exactly 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), regardless of conditions.
✓ What is actually true
Water's boiling point depends on atmospheric pressure. At sea level it boils at 100°C, but at high altitudes with lower pressure, water boils at lower temperatures (e.g., 68°C at the summit of Mount Everest). The boiling point also changes slightly with impurities in the water (salt, sugar) and with variations in air pressure.
Reception
The receipts 2 sources
- Physics Classroom: Boiling PointREFERENCE
- Khan Academy: Phase ChangesREFERENCE