What produces more severe burns, boiling water or steam?

Explanation

When water changes into steam at its boiling point, it absorbs latent heat of vaporisation (which is `22.5 xx 10^(5)` joules per kilogram). This means that steam at `100^(@)C` contains much more heat (in the form of latent heat) than boiling water at the same temperature of `100^(@)C`. So, when steam falls on our skin and condenses to form water, it gives out much more heat than boiling water, it causes more severe burns.