Is Vape Smoke Actually Water Vapor? Let’s Clear the Air!

General
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Hey vape fam! :dashing_away: Ever wondered if the “smoke” from your device is just water vapor? I did some digging, and here’s the deal:

:microscope: The Science Bit

Nope, it’s not water vapor! E-cigarette aerosol is mostly:

  • PG (Propylene Glycol) & VG (Vegetable Glycerin) – The base liquids that create visible vapor.
  • Nicotine (optional) & flavorings – Dissolved in the PG/VG mix.
  • Tiny particles – Unlike water vapor, these linger briefly in the air.

:sweat_droplets: Why the Confusion?

  • It looks like steam, but water vapor is just H₂O gas (like from a kettle). Vape “clouds” are liquid droplets suspended in air—more like fog than steam.
  • PG/VG are humectants, so they absorb moisture (that’s why vaping can dry your mouth!).

:police_car_light: Key Difference

Water vapor = harmless. Vape aerosol = not just water, but still far fewer chemicals than cigarette smoke.

Thoughts? Did anyone else think it was pure H₂O? Drop your vape-myth discoveries below! :backhand_index_pointing_down:

5 Likes
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It really does look like steam,no wonder people get confused :slightly_smiling_face:
Do you have knowledge too on how portable nebulizers work?just wondering if the tech they use can work for vaping too.

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Interesting. Now I need to do more digging. :wink:

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Wow, never realized it’s not just water vapor. No wonder my throat feels dry sometimes after vaping. Good info ,definitely clears up the misconception. Thanks for sharing