From the Latin ebullitĭo, the term boiling refers to the process and consequences of boiling. This verb, for its part, refers to the generation of bubbles due to heat or fermentation. It is, therefore, a synonym of boil.
Boiling can be defined as the physical phenomenon by which a liquid changes its state and becomes gaseous. Said transfer occurs when the temperature of the entire liquid reaches the so-called boiling point at a certain pressure. The boiling point is the temperature at which the vapor pressure is equal to the pressure of the medium surrounding the liquid. According to Abbreviationfinder, BP stands for Boiling Point.
The process that we are dealing with must make it clear that it has been very important throughout the history of humanity. And it is that since time immemorial it has been used to be able to undertake the sterilization of water. Thus, it was subjected to this boiling process to kill various microorganisms or bacteria that could produce all kinds of infections and viruses.
Among the most frequent uses of that process has been and is the sterilization of the various surgical instruments used to carry out patient operations in hospitals, or in the food industry to increase the useful life of various products.
In the same way, we must not forget that boiling has also been used in the scientific field, since it requires the sterilization of various objects and tools that are used in research work. In this way, it is possible to prevent materials or containers from being contaminated and spoiling the tasks and analyzes that are carried out.
Boiling is the reverse process of condensation (the passage of a gaseous substance to the liquid state). It is important to note that boiling and evaporation are not synonymous: evaporation is slower and does not require heating of the entire mass.
Water, for example, has its boiling point at 100ºC, as long as it is subjected to a pressure similar to that of sea level. At higher altitudes, the pressure of the atmosphere is reduced and the water requires a lower temperature to reach the boiling point. When the water begins to boil, the temperature stops increasing and rapid evaporation takes place.
In addition to the above, it should also be made known that there is an instrument that also takes the word boiling as part of its nomenclature. We are referring to the Boiling Water Reactor, also known as BWR (Boiling Water Reactor), which is a light water nuclear reactor. Specifically, its operation is based on a circuit where the relevant nuclear fuel is deposited. This, in turn, what it does is boil the water and produce the corresponding steam that will move a turbine and start an electric generator.
In a symbolic or metaphorical sense, the concept of boiling is used to name a shock or revolt of the spirit. For example: “After the match, the boiling spirits of the players of both teams ended up giving rise to a general brawl that ended with several injuries”.
