Does Hard Water Boil at a Higher Temperature?

How Minerals Affect Water Boiling Point

Hard water boils at a slightly higher temperature than ordinary water.
Hard water boils at a slightly higher temperature than ordinary water. Dave Rudkin / Getty Images
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
our editorial process
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Updated July 08, 2019

Does hard water boil at a higher temperature than pure water or regular tap water? The answer is yes. The difference in temperature usually is a degree or two. Hard water contains dissolved minerals, which cause boiling point elevation. Adding salt to water produces a similar effect. The more dissolved minerals in the water, the greater the effect. However, it's not as significant as the effect of elevation on boiling point.

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Does Hard Water Boil at a Higher Temperature?" ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/hard-water-boiling-points-609404. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 26). Does Hard Water Boil at a Higher Temperature? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/hard-water-boiling-points-609404 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Does Hard Water Boil at a Higher Temperature?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/hard-water-boiling-points-609404 (accessed January 26, 2021).