At what temperature does water begin to boil at sea level?

Water begins to boil at 100° Celsius at sea level. This boiling point is a fundamental property of water and is a critical reference point in both scientific and daily contexts. At this temperature, water molecules have enough energy to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them in liquid form, allowing them to transition into the gas phase, which is why it is often used as a standard for boiling point measurements.

At sea level, atmospheric pressure is approximately 101.3 kPa (kilopascals). The boiling point of a liquid is influenced significantly by pressure; at higher altitudes, where the atmospheric pressure is lower, water will boil at a temperature lower than 100° Celsius. Conversely, increasing the pressure, as in a pressure cooker, raises the boiling point of water above 100° Celsius.

This basic thermodynamic principle is crucial in various applications, from cooking techniques to scientific experiments, making 100° Celsius an essential temperature to remember when discussing boiling water at sea level.