Boiling Point Calculator

Use this boiling point calculator to estimate how the boiling temperature of a liquid shifts when the surrounding pressure changes.

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Run the calculator.

Quick Answer: For pressure-driven boiling point changes, solve 1/T2 = 1/T1 - (R / dHvap) x ln(P2 / P1) with all temperatures in Kelvin.

What This Boiling Point Calculator Helps You Do

This page helps you estimate how a liquid's boiling temperature changes when pressure changes, which is the most practical use case behind the Omni reference. It is useful for altitude cooking checks, vacuum evaporation estimates, and quick process design sanity checks.

The result panel reports both Kelvin and Celsius so you can move from the thermodynamics equation to a practical temperature target without doing another conversion by hand.

How to Calculate Boiling Point Calculator

  1. Enter a known boiling point: Provide the liquid's boiling point at a known pressure.
  2. Use consistent pressure units: The calculator converts atm, kPa, and mmHg internally, so the reference and target pressures stay comparable.
  3. Supply dHvap: Enter the enthalpy of vaporization for the liquid in kJ/mol.
  4. Interpret the shift: Lower pressure lowers the boiling point, while higher pressure raises it.

Boiling Point Calculator Formula

ln(P1 / P2) = -(dHvap / R) x (1/T1 - 1/T2); rearranged: T2 = 1 / (1/T1 - (R / dHvap) x ln(P2 / P1))
Variable Meaning Unit
P1 Reference pressure atm, kPa, or mmHg
P2 Target pressure atm, kPa, or mmHg
T1 Reference boiling point K
T2 Target boiling point K
dHvap Molar enthalpy of vaporization kJ/mol
R Gas constant 8.314 J/mol-K

Use the worked examples below to check how the formula behaves with real values. If the result looks unexpected, verify the unit assumptions and the meaning of each variable before interpreting the answer.

Worked Examples

Water at lower pressure - Estimate boiling point at 0.8 atm
  • Liquid: Water
  • T1: 100 deg C
  • P1: 1 atm
  • P2: 0.8 atm
  • dHvap: 40.65 kJ/mol

Result: T2 is about 93.75 deg C.

Water boils sooner as ambient pressure drops.

Water at higher pressure - Estimate boiling point at 2 atm
  • Liquid: Water
  • T1: 100 deg C
  • P1: 1 atm
  • P2: 2 atm
  • dHvap: 40.65 kJ/mol

Result: T2 is about 120.84 deg C.

Pressurized systems raise the boiling point substantially.

Water under strong vacuum - Estimate boiling point at 0.5 atm
  • Liquid: Water
  • T1: 100 deg C
  • P1: 1 atm
  • P2: 0.5 atm
  • dHvap: 40.65 kJ/mol

Result: T2 is about 81.25 deg C.

Vacuum evaporation works because the boiling point drops quickly.

Ethanol example - Estimate ethanol boiling point at 0.7 atm
  • Liquid: Ethanol
  • T1: 78.37 deg C
  • P1: 1 atm
  • P2: 0.7 atm
  • dHvap: 38.56 kJ/mol

Result: T2 is about 69.12 deg C.

Different liquids respond differently because dHvap changes from one substance to another.

How to Interpret Your Results

Range Meaning Action
Target pressure below reference The liquid boils at a lower temperature. Expect faster boiling or evaporation under reduced pressure.
Target pressure above reference The liquid needs more heat before boiling. Check whether the vessel is pressurized and whether the material remains stable.
Large pressure change Small dHvap errors create bigger temperature differences. Use substance-specific data rather than a rough estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

A liquid boils when its vapor pressure matches the surrounding pressure. Lower ambient pressure lets that happen at a lower temperature.

Yes. The Clausius-Clapeyron relationship uses absolute temperature, so the calculator converts Celsius to Kelvin before solving.

Yes. Enter water's normal boiling point at 1 atm and the lower target pressure that matches the altitude or weather condition.

It works best over modest pressure ranges when dHvap does not vary too much with temperature.
Note: This calculator uses a Clausius-Clapeyron estimate. Real boiling behavior can shift when dHvap changes strongly with temperature or when mixtures are involved.

References

Last reviewed: March 2026