Boiling Point at Altitude
Pressure decreases with altitude; boiling point drops. ~1ยฐC per 300 m for water. Essential for high-altitude cooking and chemistry.
Why This Chemistry Calculation Matters
Why: At high altitude, lower pressure means water boils below 100ยฐC. Affects cooking times, sterilization, and chemical reactions.
How: P = Pโ(1 - 2.25577ร10โปโตh)^5.25588. Then Clausius-Clapeyron for T. Water: ~1ยฐC drop per 300 m.
- โDenver (1609 m): water boils ~95ยฐC.
- โEverest base camp (5364 m): ~83ยฐC.
- โISA model for pressure vs altitude.
- โCooking: increase time or use pressure cooker.
๐๏ธ Boiling Point at Altitude Calculator
BP = 100 - 0.0034 ร altitude (m) | P = Pโ(1 - 2.256ร10โปโตh)^5.256
๐ Sample Examples
๐๏ธ Denver, Colorado
High altitude city (1,609 m)
๐ Mexico City
High altitude capital (2,240 m)
โฐ๏ธ Everest Base Camp
Extreme altitude (5,364 m)
๐๏ธ Mount Everest Summit
Highest point on Earth (8,848 m)
๐ Pressure-Based Calculation
Calculate from atmospheric pressure
๐ La Paz, Bolivia
Highest capital city (3,640 m)
โท๏ธ Aspen, Colorado
Mountain resort (2,400 m)
๐ณ High Altitude Cooking
Adjust cooking times at altitude
Enter Parameters
โ ๏ธFor educational and informational purposes only. Verify with a qualified professional.
๐ฌ Chemistry Facts
~1ยฐC drop per 300 m for water.
โ NIST
P = Pโ(1 - 2.26ร10โปโตh)^5.26. Barometric.
โ NOAA
Sea level 101.325 kPa; Denver ~83 kPa.
โ ISA
Cooking: longer times at altitude.
โ Culinary
Boiling Point at Altitude
As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure decreases, causing liquids to boil at lower temperatures. This has important implications for cooking, chemistry, and everyday life at high elevations.
For water at sea level (100ยฐC). Each 300 m increase โ 1ยฐC decrease in boiling point.
Key Concepts
Pressure Decreases
Atmospheric pressure drops ~1 kPa per 8.3 m elevation gain. Lower pressure = lower boiling point.
Cooking Impact
Food takes longer to cook at altitude because water boils at lower temperature. Adjust recipes accordingly.
Chemical Reactions
Distillation and extraction processes are affected. Lower temperatures may require longer times or pressure vessels.
Famous High-Altitude Locations
| Location | Altitude (m) | Pressure (kPa) | Water BP (ยฐC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Level | 0 | 101.3 | 100.0 |
| Denver, CO | 1609 | 83.4 | 94.5 |
| Mexico City | 2240 | 77.2 | 92.4 |
| Mount Everest Base Camp | 5364 | 53.8 | 81.8 |
| Mount Everest Summit | 8848 | 33.7 | 69.9 |
| La Paz, Bolivia | 3640 | 64.3 | 87.6 |
| Quito, Ecuador | 2850 | 72.0 | 90.3 |
| Aspen, CO | 2400 | 75.5 | 91.8 |
| Zermatt, Switzerland | 1620 | 83.1 | 94.5 |
๐ Official Data Sources
โ ๏ธ Disclaimer: This calculator uses the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) model and Clausius-Clapeyron relationships for educational reference. For precision work in aviation, meteorology, or laboratory conditions, consult NOAA atmospheric data and NIST thermodynamic properties.