[Petrochemicals (OP)]

In the cold of America people are once more throwing hot water into the air
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But why is it hot water? Is cold water incapable of rendering the effect seen in the picture above?

[alancalverd]

It's less spectacular with cold water, which may freeze before it has travelled very far. Try it and see!

[evan_au]

Part of the effect is that steam (water vapour) immediately condenses to tiny ice particles, which reflect the light.
Cold water produces very little water vapour.

[Petrochemicals (OP)]

It's less spectacular with cold water, which may freeze before it has travelled very far. Try it and see!

I would but I have not got a -45 c climate.

Part of the effect is that steam (water vapour) immediately condenses to tiny ice particles, which reflect the light.
Cold water produces very little water vapour.

It must be something like this, the hot water separates more energetically?

[vhfpmr]

It must be something like this, the hot water separates more energetically?

It's a lot more simple and obvious than that: there wouldn't be anything very surprising, spectacular, interesting or news worthy about water freezing instantly if it was already very cold.

[Petrochemicals (OP)]

It must be something like this, the hot water separates more energetically?

It's a lot more simple and obvious than that: there wouldn't be anything very surprising, spectacular, interesting or news worthy about water freezing instantly if it was already very cold.

I think there would be, if you could throw water into the air and freeze it that is still remarkable.

It takes as much energy to raise water from 0 to 80C as it does to change the same mass of ice to water. To vaporise the same mass of water takes 7 times as much as energy than to melt it from ice.

[Bored chemist]

I'm fairly sure the hot water will have a lower surface tension so it might form a better "spray"..

[Petrochemicals (OP)]

This only works at 25c below freezing, not sure of the humidity factor etc.

[wolfekeeper]

My understanding is that it only freezes well with boiling water: