Water expands approximately ________ times when converted to steam.

Water expands approximately 1600 times when it is converted to steam, which is significant in various applications, especially in refrigeration and heat exchange processes. This substantial increase in volume is due to the change of phase from liquid to gas, where the molecules of water gain energy and move apart, resulting in a dramatic increase in space occupied.

Understanding this expansion is vital in systems that involve steam pressure, such as boilers and turbines, where the efficiency and capacity for work are directly related to the steam's volume expansion properties. This behavior illustrates why steam is an effective medium for transferring energy and demonstrates the principles of thermodynamics governing phase changes in substances.

The other options, while representing some degree of expansion, do not accurately reflect the actual physical properties of water transitioning to steam. Knowing the correct value helps in understanding concepts like steam pressure and energy calculations in thermodynamic cycles.