Gas vs. Steam
What is the difference between gas and steam? Many people mistakenly believe that gas and steam are the same, ignoring that they are very different substances.
There are four states of matter: liquid, solid, plasma, and gaseous.
This latter state occurs when there is a lot of space between the molecules,
thus allowing them to move in different directions and constantly expand.
Difference between Gas and Steam
Taking into account what we have said above about the gaseous state.
Gas
On the other hand, gas is a substance that cannot become liquid by simply applying pressure.
Unlike steam (and as you may have noticed after reading the introduction) one of the states of matter is gaseous, but there is no mention of a “vaporized” state.
At an ambient temperature, the gas will remain gas in its natural state.
If you want to change this phase, then it is necessary to change both the temperature and the pressure.
Steam
Steam is a type of gas, but it is in constant transition between the gaseous and liquid states.
It is a gas when it is below its critical temperature, but can be condemned as a liquid by increasing its pressure without reducing its temperature.
It can also be described as a state of equilibrium between the liquid and the gaseous. In addition to the liquid, its state can become solid.
Finally, the gases can be subjected to compression easily, but not as much as steam; since the latter is in a constant state of transition.
When gas is placed in a container, it fills it and takes up more space than liquid or solid substances.
The vapor particles can have a definite shape when observed under a microscope, contrary to those of gas that has no definite shape.
