Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

Question:  Could steel change from a solid to gas?
fairview
 
Answer:
Steel is a form of iron.  Steel melts at about 1300 degrees Celsius 
(2400 Fahrenheit).  It's boiling point is about 3000 C (or 5400 F).
To generate that much heat would be astounding!  Even when you get to
the boiling point, you would have to keep adding energy to vaporize
the steel.  I haven't been able to come across a value for the amount
of heat needed for this either (called "delta H of vaporization"), but my
guess would be that it is very high since the vapor pressure of molten
steel is probably very low (vapor pressure is a measure of a liquid's
tendency to go to the gas phase).  If your question meant can steel go
directly from solid to gas (which is called sublimation, what 'dry ice'
does), no.
-Joe Schultz