The correct option is 212°F.
Explanation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure equals the external atmospheric pressure. At standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm), water transitions from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase at specific fixed temperatures defined on various scales.
Analysis:
- 212°F is Correct: On the Fahrenheit scale, the freezing point of water is defined as 32°F and the boiling point is defined as 212°F. The interval between these two points is divided into 180 equal parts (degrees).
- 100°F is Incorrect: 100°F corresponds to approximately 37.8°C, which is close to the average human body temperature, not the boiling point of water.
- 373°F is Incorrect: 373 represents the boiling point of water on the Kelvin scale (373 K), not the Fahrenheit scale.
- 0°F is Incorrect: 0°F was historically defined by the freezing temperature of a brine solution. It is significantly below the freezing point of pure water (32°F).
Key Takeaway:
At standard pressure, the boiling point of water is 100°C, 212°F, or 373 K. The conversion formula is F = (9/5)C + 32.