The Water does not boil?

Question

This morning, i lit the stove with some water for some oatmeal.

i checked back on it expecting it to boil for the time i allowed it, i was very surprised to find that it was not boiling, it looked as though it was just warm because steam was coming from the water. however, i was even more surprised to find that when i touched the pot, it immediately started to boil.

What is this phenomenon called?

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

If it was giving off steam then it was boiling, even though you didn't see bubbles. Once the water reaches 212 degrees it'll then change to steam. Anything above boiling is steam. If you see steam then the water has reached 212 degrees. The molecules aren't yet moving fast enought to create the bubbles you are looking for.

Or you have a magic touch

Answer 2

Impatience. Ever hear that a watched pot will not boil? It is from you waiting and waiting and therefore time goes slower. The pot just coincidentally got hot enough to boil when you touched it. I am surprised you were not burned. Keep in mind good things come to those who wait and next time do not attempt to touch the pot as you may get burned.

Answer 3

It sounds as if you happened to touch the water exactly at the time when the water reached 100 C. Your finger was a catalyst as it broke the water surface creating a point where water temp. was more than 100 C reaching boiling point.

Answer 4

A watched pot never boils

It's possible, but extremely unlikely, that the water became super heated but had no where for bubbles to form. However if that happened you would have scalded your face when you touched the pot.

Answer 5

a watched pot never boils, so stop watching and it will boil !

Answer 6

This phenomenon is called coincidence.

Answer 7

rapid heating or super hot it usually only happens with microwaves and metal

Answer 8

I call that "Taking one too many of something. :)"