Which of the following is a common byproduct of cremation?

The correct answer is that water vapor is a common byproduct of cremation. During the cremation process, the intense heat applied to the body typically reaches temperatures ranging from 1400 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat causes organic materials to combust, leading to the release of various gases, including water vapor.

When the body undergoes combustion, moisture content within the tissues evaporates, producing water vapor as a result of the high temperatures. Furthermore, the process involves the transformation of other substances present in the body, contributing to emissions that primarily include carbon dioxide, but water vapor is a significant component as well.

While carbon ash—the residue left after cremation—and other gases are indeed produced during cremation, water vapor is one of the primary outputs, reflecting the changes in the body's composition due to the cremation process. Liquid nitrogen is not a byproduct of cremation; it is used in other contexts, such as cryopreservation, and does not relate to the process of human cremation.