Eric Yost wrote: "Boiling point is a 'temperature'..." Nope. Rather it is, in your own words, a measurement for or standardization of temperature with regards to water boiling. That is, it is not itself an instance of measuring the temperature of water but rather a rule(r) or standard held up against water temperature. This should be obvious given the qualifications needed to fix the ideal conditions under which water is defined to boil. Put more simply, boiling point can't simply be a temperature if it also includes reference to atmospheric conditions and water purity. All these non-temperature elements fix boiling point as a standard for measuring water temperature rather than a temperature. How is the length of a meter defined? With reference to time not distance. Sincerely, Phil Enns Toronto, ON ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html