What happens to the heat energy in a material as it transitions from solid to liquid?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the behavior of heat energy within a substance as it undergoes a phase transition from a solid state to a liquid state. Specifically, it wants to know whether the heat energy increases, decreases, remains the same, or fluctuates randomly during this process. This relates to the concept of latent heat of fusion.
Answer
Heat energy breaks intermolecular forces, maintaining a constant temperature during the solid-to-liquid transition.
During the transition from solid to liquid, the heat energy is used to break the intermolecular forces holding the solid together, instead of increasing the temperature. Therefore, at the melting point, the temperature remains constant as the substance changes phase.
Answer for screen readers
During the transition from solid to liquid, the heat energy is used to break the intermolecular forces holding the solid together, instead of increasing the temperature. Therefore, at the melting point, the temperature remains constant as the substance changes phase.
More Information
The energy required to change a solid to a liquid is called the enthalpy of fusion. The temperature at which a substance changes from solid to liquid is called the melting point.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume that the temperature always increases when heat is added. During a phase change, the temperature remains constant even though heat is being added.
Sources
- 7.3: Phase Changes - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
- Phase Transitions: Melting, Boiling, and Subliming - opentextbc.ca
- 3.2: Energy of Phase Changes - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
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