Spectrum #71: Order these liquids by boiling point — the solution

The Spectrum puzzle from October 24, 2026: six things on one hidden scale, lowest to highest, with every figure and where the checks were best spent.

The puzzle

Order these liquids by boiling point, lowest at the top and highest at the bottom. The board opened in this order:

1. Mercury
2. Liquid nitrogen
3. Ammonia
4. Water
5. Ethanol
6. Acetone

Nothing was in its place; Mercury opened 5 places from home.

The walkthrough

The ends first. Liquid nitrogen is the lowest of the six at -320 °F and Mercury the highest at 674 °F. Anchor those and the middle four are what is left to place.

Where the scale splits. The widest gap is between Water (212 °F) and Mercury (674 °F) — 462 °F apart. Everything above that line belongs on the lowest side and everything below it on the highest side, so sorting the six into those two groups is most of the puzzle.

The closest call. Ethanol (173 °F) and Water (212 °F) are only 39 °F apart — the pair that is a coin flip without the figures, and the place to spend a check: a check locks whatever is already right and leaves only the wrong tiles to swap.

The answer

Previous: Spectrum #70 (Fri, Oct 23) · Next: Spectrum #72 (Sun, Oct 25) · All Spectrum solutions

About Spectrum

Spectrum is Noggin’s daily ordering puzzle: six things, one hidden scale, three checks. Tiles in the right place lock green; the figures turn over when the board is done. How to play Spectrum, or play today’s.