Thermometer Readings

• A thermometer provides the most accurate temperature identification for water and will identify the exact temperature of water as it moves from its gas to liquid to solid phases. When water drops in temperature and nears its solid phase, a thermometer will indicate this degree by degree, just as a thermometer will show increasing temperatures as water nears a gaseous phase.
  
  

Freezing Point

• The freezing point of water, 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius, creates ice. Water molecules link tightly together in hexagonal crystals and vibrate in place. As water reaches its solid phase, it becomes cooler to the touch and expands in size.
  
  

Boiling Point

• The boiling point of water, 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius, creates steam or water vapor, a process also referred to as evaporation. Water molecules increase in speed and remain separated from one another. As water reaches its gaseous phase, it becomes hotter.