Multiple choice

At high altitudes the boiling point of water decreases because

  1. the atmospheric pressure is high

  2. the temperature is low

  3. the atmospheric pressure is low

  4. the temperature is high

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

At higher altitudes, atmospheric pressure is lower because there's less air above pushing down. Lower pressure means water molecules need less energy to escape into the gas phase, so boiling occurs at a lower temperature.