On Tue, 14 Jun 2005 10:11:03 -0800, Floyd L. Davidson wrote:

My point, since it went right over your head when stated as a
puzzle, is that temperature alone is not what defines when
something "boils", and some materials that you wouldn't normally
think of in terms of a vapor can in fact "boil". "Out-gas"
might be a better term.

In a case like this, "out-gas" would definitely be a better term,
or even "sublimate", which means to go right from solid to gas.
Only liquids can boil, and then only when the uneven heat causes
bubbles of vapor to form. _That's_ what boiling is, regardless
of the temp., material, or anything else. You should have seen
the LN2 seethe when they opened the valve on the sorption pump!

Cheers!
Rich