True or false: A liquid with a low boiling point will more readily change to a vapor than a liquid with a high boiling point when exposed to fire or heat

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not enough information
• D. It depends on pressure

Answer: (A)

Vaporization under heat hinges on the boiling point. The boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid’s vapor pressure matches the surrounding pressure. A liquid with a lower boiling point reaches that threshold at a lower temperature, so when exposed to fire or heat, it will begin to boil and form vapor sooner than a liquid with a higher boiling point. As the fire continues to supply energy, the low-boiling-point liquid keeps vaporizing more readily, producing vapors faster and more easily. Under typical fire conditions (near atmospheric pressure), this means the statement is true. (Keep in mind that boiling point shifts with pressure, but in a common fire scenario, lower boiling point means easier vaporization.)