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Question
What is the difference freezing and boiling point for tap water and pure water ?
Tap water has more impurities. These impurities act as nucleation sites, so tap water will boil and freeze at slightly lower temperatures. The temperature difference depends on the concentraion of impurities, and which minerals are present. So there is no "correct" answer here. Tap water in New York City will behave differently than tap water in Los Angeles. To find the correct answer for your city, do the experiment yourself with a very sensitive thermometer, because the differences will be very, very small.
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Science for Kids
Answers by Expert:
Sue Kayton
Expertise
I can answer almost any student science question! I especially like ones involving silkworms, spacecraft and computers.
Experience
MIT graduate. Have worked as an engineer and taught science for 28 years.
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