Why does steam at 100 degrees Celsius cause more serious burns than water at 100 degrees Celsius?
That’s a faulty conclusion. The amount of burning caused by steam or hot water depends on a lot of variables like volume, mass, pressure, and quantity. You can wave your hand close to a rapidly boiling pot of water in 100°C steam and barely feel it, but dip your finger in that water for just a second and see what it feels like. That’s because there is a lot more mass in the water than in the the same volume of steam, capable of transferring heat to your body resulting in a burn.
