Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

At sea level, what is the boiling point of water in Kelvin?

1. 273 K

2. 373 K

3. 100 K

4. 210 K

The correct answer is: 373 K

At sea level, the boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius. To convert this temperature to Kelvin, you start with the Celsius temperature and add 273.15, which is the offset to convert between these two temperature scales. Therefore, 100 degrees Celsius plus 273.15 equals 373.15 K. Since precision may allow rounding in some contexts, 373 K is the commonly accepted boiling point of water at sea level in Kelvin. This understanding is crucial because the boiling point changes with altitude and atmospheric pressure, but at standard conditions, it consistently remains at 373 K.