Vapour

Vapour

Vapour is a substance diffused or suspended in the air, especially one normally liquid or solid. A vapour is produced when a substance undergoes vaporisation, which simply implies heating up a liquid until it turns into vapour.

According to different sources, vapour “is a substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical temperature, which means that the vapour can be condensed to a liquid by increasing the pressure on it without reducing the temperature.” In other words, vaporising a liquid will alter its state, but vapour will comprise the same molecules as the substance in its liquid phase. Now technically, what is produced when we vape isn’t vapour at all, but aerosol. Since just about every vaper uses the (slang) term “vapour” and not the scientifically precise term “aerosol,” we’re going to stick with “vapour” too.

When using a vape the smoke you exhale is called vapour and it is not the same as the smoke that is being exhaled while using traditional cigarettes. Vapour is not harmful for others, it does not have an unpleasant smell.

How are smoke and vapour different?

Lighting a cigarette will produce smoke, while vaporising e-liquid will produce vapour (aerosol). Outside of their visual similarities, smoke and vapour don’t have much in common. They are very different in composition, and behave in very distinct ways. Here’s how these substances differ to each other in a nutshell.

Composition

When it comes to tobacco and e-liquid, the only thing they have in common is nicotine. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, with 70 of them being proven carcinogens and many more being unhealthy to inhale.

Although vapes do not produce water vapour, vaporised e-liquid comprises of vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine, and food grade flavourings. With the exception of nicotine, everything that’s included in e-liquid is safe to ingest, according to the CDC. Safety for inhalation has not been proven, but neither has risk. The science is still coming in.

Smell

The smell of smoke lingers in the room for a long time, unlike vapour. Smokers might not notice it that easily, but vapers and non-smokers can recognise the smell in a closed room for hours after a cigarette has been smoked.

Vapor clouds might be denser and dissipate slower — i.e., stay visible in the room for a longer time – but the smell will be much more pleasant and go away much more quickly.

Residue

Smoking inside a room will eventually stain fabrics, walls, and furniture. One of the culprits behind that is tar, the toxic resinous mixture that makes smoking so deadly, and is also notorious for staining everything it comes in contact with. Other byproducts of combustion, such as carbon monoxide, will work alongside tar to give your walls this dirty, yellow tint.

The PG and VG in vapor may create a thin, blurry coating on glass surfaces, but it cleans up easily. It will not turn your walls and fabrics yellow over time and won’t make furniture look older than it actually is.

Temperature

The temperature of the cigarette coal is around 1112 F (600 C) when resting, rising to 1652 F (900 C) when taking a puff. While smoke rapidly reaches room temperature when inhaled and exhaled (mainstream smoke), the smoke that gets produced on the coal itself (sidestream smoke) will raise the peripheral temperature, especially when the cigarette is becoming smaller.

E-cigarettes, on the other hand, vaporize e-liquid at much lower temperatures, usually not higher than 482 F (200 C). As a result, the exhaled vapor is much cooler, coming out at a temperature lower than the surrounding room air. Try exhaling on your arm, and you’ll see for yourself.

November 9, 2022June 21, 2023

Beginner’s Quick Guide to Vaping

Beginner's Quick Guide to Vaping You've come to the correct place if you're searching for a brief guide to vaping and are thinking about quitting smoking or just interested in it as a pastime. Simply explained, vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the vapour produced by an e-cigarette or other similar device. The vapour is produced by heating the e-liquid within, giving the user a nicotine dose without the smoke, tar, ash, or smell of traditional cigarettes.